This is my speech that I wrote for our school speech competition, enjoy.

Moving

Today I am going to tell you a story about someone I know. She lives in  Kaikohe, but she used to live in a place called Hamilton and she is who I'm going to be talking about today.

When this girl lived in Hamilton she had to wake up early and drive 15 minutes or so just to get to school on time everyday, and how do I know this you might ask… it’s because I used to live with her.

I remember her and I were the only two Maori students in our class and no one could pronounce her name let alone mine as well her mother’s, or even her brothers because they were Maori names. But they could pronounce her dad's name because it’s a Pakehā name, his name is Joe if you’re wondering.

One day, she told me she was from a small place called Kaikohe… Kaikohe?

“Where is Kaikohe?” I asked.

“That's the thing.” she said. “I don't know where it is, I don't know where I'm from.”

That was when one day her (this girl that I’m talking about) parents decided that they would move to Kaikohe.

Coming here was one of the best decisions in my opinion I think my parents have ever made. I am able to say my maunga is just over there, my awa is just over here, my maraes across the road plus I'm living in the house my grandfather and mother grew up in. Now I can grow up and it's cool because my great grandfather built it and to see all the hard work he put into the house we live in is a true blessing to have that. I could never have that six hours away from here .

So on that note. If you haven't figured it out already, that girl I am talking about today her name is Parehuia, and that girl is me.

Ko Putahi te maunga, ko Wairoro te awa, ko Te Kotahitanga te marae, ko Ngātokimatawhaorua te waka, ko Ngāti Whakaeke te hapu ko Ngapuhi te iwi, ko Te Riini tōku mama, ko Joseph tōku pāpā, ko Penaia tāku teina, Ko Parehuia ahau. Thank you all for listening to my speech. This is my story and I hope you enjoyed it.

Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā tātou katoa.