Students’ Vision For A United Future: Embrace Our Differences - Race Unity Speech Awards 2026

Amanjot Singh from Hastings Boys High School has been named the National Champion of the Race Unity Speech Awards for 2026 receiving the Tohu Raukura ā-Motu – New Zealand Police National Champion’s Award.

Held at Ngā Kete Wānanga Marae MIT in Ōtara Auckland, the Year 13 student also received the Tohu Manaakitanga - the Manukau Institute of Technology Award for Manaakitanga and the Tohu Whetumatarau – the Ministry for Ethnic Communities Award for Vision.

“When I first started speech contests a year ago, I did it to step outside my comfort zone and become more confident speaking but as I’ve continued and grown as a speaker, I’ve started to really value expressing my thoughts and appreciate the power that speeches have to challenge perspectives and move people.”

Amanjot is head boy, is in the New Zealand under 18 Hockey Team and hopes to represent New Zealand one day. He also hopes to become a doctor.

New Zealand Police Assistant Commissioner Tim Anderson, chief judge of the national final, said the Police are proud to be a principal partner and sponsor of the awards since 2008. He said the judges found it very difficult and tough to try and distinguish between all the finalists.

“All of the students were very humble, they showed their vulnerability and their speeches were very honest. It's tremendous to witness the courage from our rangatahi as they speak from the heart and give us the gift of their thoughts - we feel enriched from that experience."

This year’s theme - ‘Listening to Understand - Whakarongo kia Mārama’, focused on creating an environment of respect and trust across diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds.

“Amanjot had a lovely manner and approach. He was very positive and when you’re talking about social cohesion, the more questions we can ask, and the more understanding that we have, the better it is as opposed to pointing the finger or pushing out blame.” said AC Tim Anderson.

Dr Claire Achmad, Children’s Commissioner, Mana Mokopuna and MC for national final, said the six rangatahi shared deep and profound messages to us all about what we need to do better - and we need to do better at listening to understand - a key solution to better race relations in our country.

“They have also brought forward powerful solutions that are practical - bringing down the borders between us. Sitting and taking the time to understand who you are, what is your story. Not just listening on the surface. But listening to understand.”

Paddy Payne, national coordinator for the Race Unity Speech Awards and Baha’i representative said the weekend was so uplifting for everyone there.

“Hearing these powerful speeches touched minds, hearts and spirits. Many speakers talked about the oneness of humanity. They made it clear that if everyone in this country really ‘listened to understand’ Aotearoa New Zealand would be transformed – not just from racism but from all forms of prejudice.”

All six finalists received a special award that recognise speakers for specific types of excellence as follows:

Sisilia Misa, a Year 13 student from Middleton Grange School in Christchurch received the Tohu Māramatanga - Baha’i Community Award for Insight.

“Sisilia showed a tremendous amount of insight on what’s going on in the world today. With eloquence and good humour she managed to look to the future and show some insight into what we can do to constructively overcome some of the barriers to the oneness of mankind. It was a speech full of hope and it was optimistic of how we can break down the walls.” - Nura Taefi KC, representing the Baha’i community

Lukas Strohmeier, a Year 13 student from Francis Douglas Memorial College in New Plymouth received the Tohu Aumangea – Hedi Moani Memorial Award for Advocacy”

“Lukas presented his speech very clearly with concise pathways to advocacy and action - for us all, as a country to take up this challenge.” Dr Adel Salamzadeh - Hedi Moani Charitable Trust

Malak Tamimi received both the Tohu Manukura i te Reo - Māori Language Commission Award for te Reo Māori and the Tohu Eke Panuku - Human Rights Commission Award for Impact

“Malak managed to share her message in such a special, inclusive and impactful way. Thank you so much for not just including te Māori in your speech, but being considerate in how you used it in a way that could be heard not just in my ears, but in my ngākau” - Rangiora Trotman - Pou Arataki - Te Hiringa, Te Taura Whiri I te Re Māori

“Malak’s speech reflected the award for impact by not only inspiring us and challenging us on how we think about impact, but inspired us to also think about how we organise - how do we make a difference in our communities.” Justin Latif - Human Rights Commission

Paora Tavake a Year 12 student at Dilworth School in Auckland received the Tohu Auahatanga – Speech NZ Award for Delivery.

“Paora’s opening was immediately engaging, and his delivery integrated the message of listening to be heard. He employed his resonant tone artistically and had an excellent variation of pace, slowing the shorter sentences to give those words more focus. He sustained his breath throughout every line, making every word count, and had the audience totally engrossed. Well done.”

Kylie Arada, a Year 13 student from Southern Cross Campus in Auckland received the Tohu Ahurea Rau – Multicultural NZ Award for Diversity

“You spoke with warmth and wisdom about migrant experiences and the importance of making space for voices that are too often overlooked. You reminded us that listening is not simply hearing words. It is feeling the ripple of someone else’s story and allowing that understanding to guide our actions. Your speech strongly reflected empathy, inclusion and the richness of Aotearoa’s cultural diversity. Congratulations.” - Dinesh Khadka, MNZM, JP - Honorary Consul of Nepal to New Zealand

Amanjot Singh - the National Champion for 2026 received the Tohu Raukura ā-Motu – NZ Police National Champion’s Award, as well as the Tohu Manaakitanga – Manukau Institute of Technology and Unitec Award for Manaakitanga and the Tohu Whetumatarau – Ministry for Ethnic Communities Award for Vision

“This was a very special speech, one in which the weapon of choice was love, where we were asked to step inside a courtroom and think not like a lawyer but impartially like a judge, we were challenged to close our eyes and picture different people in different types of jobs; and throughout manaakitanga shone really, really brightly in this speech” - Assistant Professor John Oldfield - Unitec Institute of Technology

“Amanjot challenged the assumptions that silence people, envisioning a future where belonging and inclusion are actively built. Your words remind us that the future is something we don’t just wait for - it’s something we create, together” Anahita Oei - Ministry for Ethnic Communities

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