UNANZ Secondary School Speech Awards 2019

Pioneered by life member, Clinton Johnson, the UNA Secondary School Speech Awards have been successfully run for over 30 years, spotlighting the youth’s finest minds up until today and for many more successful years to come.

17 July 2019

The list of past winners and title holders are home to some familiar names such as Paula Tesiora, Chris Bishop and our Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern. Championing these awards come with great prestige, and this year, applicants were asked to submit a 6-8-minute speech on their opinion on the following topic:

quote mark

“Does our concern for security compromise peace?”

The National Finals were held on the 21st of June in Wellington, where Dan Harwood Jones impressed the judges with his compelling speech on New Zealand’s position in regard to international security and the aims, goals and aspirations that the United Nations have set out to achieve.  To read the full speech, click here

Dan Harwood Jones Onslow College Wellington

Peter Nichols, UNA NZ President (left), and Dan Harwood Jones, Onslow College, Wellington (right)

The runner up for the speech awards was William Wood from Palmerston Boys’ High School.  To read his speech please click here

These Speech Awards are a fantastic platform for young aspiring leaders to cultivate their skills in public speaking, research and are a great confidence boost. The United Nations Association of New Zealand is thankful to our branches in Tauranga, Whanganui, Canterbury, Northern, Waikato and Wellington for their efforts and contributions in raising awareness of our organisation throughout New Zealand. 

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