1967 Korimako Contest

Te Ao Hou, December 1967, Page 28

1967 Korimako Contest On 25 August, the Dominion Finals of the Korimako Trophy Speech Contest were held in St Mary's College Assembly Hall. Wellington. This year's topic, given to the contestants an hour before they were due to speak, was:— ‘How best can I play an effective part in New Zealand life today, and how best can I prepare myself for this purpose?’ The judges were Mrs C. A. Fleming, Mr N. F. Harrè and Mr N. P. K. Puriri, and the presentations were made by Mr A. McCready, M.P. for Otaki, and Chairman of Parliament's Maori Affairs Committee. Winner of the Korimako Trophy, first presented by Sir Bernard Fergusson in 1965, and a $30 book token, was Rawinia Carroll-Paku, grand-daughter of Sir Turi Carroll, and a Wairoa College pupil. Second prize, the J. McEwen trophy and a $20 book token, went to Ngatai Huata of Waikato Diocesan School for Girls, a daughter of Canon Wi Huata. Ross Smith, of Taupo-Nui-a-Tia College won third prize, a $10 book token. Rawinia Carroll-Paku with her mother and grandfather, Sir Turi Carroll. Some extracts from Rawinia's winning speech show the generally high standard of the contestants. … ‘In this our land, which we dearly believe to be “God's own country”, we should display a pride and responsibility to our country and fellowman. We should evaluate our successes with pleasure and our failures with a tinge of sadness. … ‘How we will meet the challenge of life depends upon our pride of race, our independence, our ability to form judgments and upon our willingness to share in the work of running the community. … ‘Education gives us that opportunity to qualify and achieve, and by that example we give heart, inspiration and leadership to others. … ‘I hope to assume my full share of responsibility for the country in which I live. The whole purpose of democracy is for participation of the individual. … ‘My life will not be a success unless I

learn from the past, live for the present, and plan for the future. … ‘We must encourage our people to accept responsibility, to adopt better standards of living and to adapt themselves to modern society without losing their identity. … ‘I sincerely believe that among both races in New Zealand there is a growing respect each for the other, and in years to come a new and exciting culture will develop.’ Quotes from some of the other contestants are worth repeating. From Jane Harding, Northland College … ‘We must have ambition and a goal to aim for. We seem to want a life of excitement instead of gruelling hours of study. We do not lack ability, but we lack ambition.’ From Ann Glover, Gisborne Girls' High School … ‘I must have confidence in my- continued on page 53 National Publicity Studios Ross Smith, third place-getter. Ngatai Huata, who won second place, with her father, Canon Wi Huata.