Spoken Word 2024 | Word The Frontline

This year, the Wesley College spoken word team, comprising myself, Moeata, and new recruits Kesa, Hope, Katea , Te Rina, and Kepu, have embarked on an exciting journey to compete in the prestigious Word The Frontline competition. As the only experienced member of the team, I am thrilled to be leading this group of talented young poets as we navigate the challenge of this esteemed event. 

In our regional heats, we had the opportunity to showcase three original poems, and I was impressed by the confidence and poise displayed by each team member as they shared their work. Despite feeling a mix of excitement, we successfully conveyed our messages to the audience following our regional success. We will participate in workshops with Action Education to refine our skills and forge strong bonds with our fellow competitors. 

At the workshop, we engaged in a range of activities designed to foster teamwork and camaraderie among the teams. These icebreakers allowed us to get to know each other better and develop a deeper understanding of one another's strengths and weaknesses. We also had the pleasure of meeting our coach, Gabrielle Togiatama, a former Wesley College student who coached our team last year. Her guidance and expertise have been invaluable in helping us refine our crafts and develop a growth mindset.

As we move forward in the competition, we are eager to continue honing our skills and learning how to effectively convey our stories through spoken word. Our coach has emphasized the importance of being supportive not just of our team but also of our fellow competitors from other schools. 

Throughout this journey, I am excited to witness the growth and development of my teammates as they discover their unique voices and styles. As a team, we are committed to pushing ourselves to new heights and making the most of this incredible opportunity. With Gabrielle's guidance and our collective enthusiasm, I am confident that we will make Wesley College proud and have memorable experiences at Word The Frontline.

Moeata Ngataki
Year 12