We are thrilled to announce that the Dutch Week Speech Competition is back for its fourth year, and for the first time, we are extending the invitation to include Year 7 & 8 students. This initiative offers a unique platform for Dutch speaking and Dutch Heritage students across New Zealand to showcase their speaking skills while connecting with their cultural roots.
Competition Details:
Eligibility: Open to all Dutch speaking and Dutch Heritage students currently enrolled in Years 7-13 at any New Zealand school.
Topics by Year Group:
- Year 7 & 8: “My Oma (or My Opa)”
- Year 9-11: “What I Tell My Friends About Being Dutch in New Zealand”
- Year 12 & 13: “My Dutch Connection: Past, Present, and Future”
Speech Duration:
- Years 7-11: 2-3 minutes
- Years 12 & 13: 3-4 minutes
Languages: Speeches can be presented in Dutch or English.
Submission Deadline: Pre-entry submissions, in the form of a video of the speech, must be received by 11:59 PM on 28 April.
Students are to either share a video on google drive with cbuijsers@dutchcommunities.co.nz or upload private to youtube and share the URL.
They will then need to fill in the form here : https://forms.gle/NMSzWMghacwMxcvz9
The terms and conditions for entry are:
1. The judges decisions are final.
2. Entrants must submit authentic and original content composed primarily by the entrant. All assistance by adults/helpers should be in the form of polishing only. Assistance through the use of online translation and AI tools is permitted but the ideas must be your own. This is your story.
3. Entrants must be Year 7-13 enrolled and attending a New Zealand Secondary school.
4. Entries into the Dutch language category must be 99% in the Dutch language. This excludes direct English quotes or names of people or places.
5. Strict time limits will apply. Year 7-11 Speeches are limited to 2-3 minutes. Year 12&13 speeches are limited to 3-4 minutes.
6. Entries must have permission from their parent/legal guardian to enter the competition, as part of this permission the parent/guardian consents to the entrants name and their content to be used by the organisers in matters related to this competition. The use of the content constitutes an unlimited license to redistribute the content to the organisers in perpetuity.
7. All entrants will be available from 5pm until the completion of the finals on 3 May 2024 with a working internet connection and the zoom application (or google meet as a backup) if selected for participating in the final. Even those attending in person will present on Zoom and will need to be able to connect to the internet at Ross Intermediate School
8. Speeches submitted for the preselection will be substantially the same as the speech delivered by an entrant in the final.
9. Entrants consent to their name and contact details to be shared with the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands for distribution of prizes and certificates that may be won in the competition.
10. The organisers may amend and update these rules without notice.
This competition is a wonderful opportunity for students to engage in Dutch culture and express their personal connections to their heritage.
Supported by:
The organiser of this event is the Federation of New Zealand Netherlands Societies Inc. and we thank the support from The Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, The Ministry for Ethnic Communities, The Dutch Business Association, Isometric Solutions, Go Dutch, Oranjehof, The Windmill Trust Foxton, and of course our hosts Ross Intermediate.
For more information, to register, or to submit your entry, please contact cbuijsers@dutchcommunities.co.nz or visit our website at www.dutchcommunities.co.nz/speechcomp.
