Young Speechmaker Contest
The Lions Clubs of New Zealand offer youth from 16 to 21 years of age (as at 15 November in the year of the competition) the opportunity to participate in a national public speaking contest.
Entry is free to the contestants and open to the public through your local Lions Club. Generally, there will be at least a district contest with the winner/s coming forward to the National Final held in August each year.
This year, the final was held on August 1st 2026 at:
Concert Chambers of Central Hawkes Bay Municipal Theatre, Waipawa
Judges at this year’s Young Speechmaker final, held at the Central Hawkes Bay Municipal Theatre on Saturday, 1 August, had a very tough decision to find placegetters from the district finalists who had made it to this point in the competition. Thirteen talented young speechmakers, who came from areas spread geographically from the far north to the deep south, and who spoke on a wide variety of topics, represented their families, their schools, and their sponsoring Lions clubs with a high degree of honour and integrity.
Results of the competition were as follows:
1st – Oliver Jull – 202D – New Plymouth Boys High School – New Plymouth Pakeke Lions
2nd – Eliot Webber – 202M – Napier Boys High School – Napier Host Lions
3rd – Malak Tamimi – 202J – Queens High School – Dunedin Host Lions
Other finalists (in district alphabetical order):
Lukas Strohmeier – 202D – Francis Douglas Memorial College – New Plymouth Pakeke Lions
Medha Baadkar – 202E – Christchurch Girls High School – Halswell Lions
Stephanie Loveridge – 202E – Hillmorton High School – Halswell Lions
Charlie Short – 202F – Blue Mountain College – West Otago Lions
Liam Calder – 202F – Otago University – Waikiwi Lions
Emily Wackrow – 202K – Diosesan School for Girls – Remuera Lions
Jordan Petrie – 202K – Tauraroa Area School – Midwestern Lions
Skye McLullich – 202K – Selwyn College – Remuera Lions
Karla Davey – 202L – Otorohanga College – Otorohanga Lions
Coco Varcoe – 202M – Iona College – Hastings Host Lions
Officials on the day were:
Judges: Lynn Marsh, Belinda Robertson and Tohu Seeds
Timekeepers: Carolyn Wilson and Tony Watson
Behind the scenes: PDG Pam Fiveash (Young Speechmaker coordinator) & Stephanie Jordan
Huge thanks must go to the organising committee from Waipawa District Lions Club who put in so much effort to ensure the smooth running of the event. This included arranging airport transfers, home hosting and catering.
What is the Young Speechmaker Contest?
Your local Lions Club will contact your school or youth group and offer to sponsor speakers for the District contest.
The District contest/s are all to be completed by the 30th June and up to three contestants from each District will come to the National (MD202) Contest in August.
Travel arrangements and venue details will be discussed with the national finalists by the NZ Lions Young Speechmaker Coordinator as soon as practicable after the 30th June.
We encourage participation and support from fellow students, their families and Lion Club members at all contests. The only cost involved in attending is the catering charge (typically around $15) for morning tea, lunch and an afternoon tea before you all head home. Contestants are paid for by their sponsoring Lions Club.
Prizes are awarded to all winners. A4 Certificates of Appreciation are provided for all contestants to place in their CV. At national level good prizes are provided by our sponsors for the top three winners.
The Young Speechmaker rules, criteria and judging sheets are much the same as they have been for years and these are available for download from this page as is the application form.
If you wish to contact your local Lions Club directly you can search for them here and then send them a message.
Contestants
Want to know more and to enter?
Read the competition rules and criteria
Complete the online application form
Get in touch with your local sponsoring Lions Club.
Not sure where your nearest club is? You can search for them here.
If you need further assistance contact us at .
Lions Clubs & Districts
For instructions on running the competition at a local level, contact your District Youth Chair or MD202 Young Speechmaker Coordinator.
Email:
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