The Year 13 student from Alfriston College in Tāmaki Makaurau had watched both his older brother and sister compete in previous years, each walking away with a win of their own. This year, after years of persistence, it was his turn, earning a place among this year's winners. 

"What inspired me was mainly to be like my older siblings. My sister and my brother have both competed before and they both won in their years. So for me, if they can do it, I believe I can do it too." 

Although it wasn't Omeka's first time competing in the annual Polyfest Samoa Speech Competition, he was determined to continue the legacy his siblings had built. After weeks of preparation, including refining his speech with support from his mother, he stepped onto the stage ready to make his final year of secondary school one to remember. 

A proud tama Samoa and the son of Aumau (mother) and Fiti (father) Fau, Omeka says the competition was more than just winning. It was an opportunity to celebrate Gagana Samoa (Samoa Language), culture and identity that have shaped him. 

"To be honest, it was mainly about representing my culture. I'm proud of who I am and proud of my identity. I'm full Samoan, so I'm proud to stand in front of a crowd, share my speech and speak in my first language. 

I hope it inspires other young people to remember who they are and encourages them to speak our language.” 

Each year, secondary school students from across Tāmaki Makaurau take part in the Samoa Speech Competition, hosted by Polyfest and supported by the Ministry for Pacific Peoples. This year's competitors spoke on a range of topics, with Omeka choosing E moni e āfua mai mauga manuia? – Is it true blessings come from mountains? 

His speech reflected on the many “mountains” that have guided his life, from his parents and grandparents to his community, church and faith. 

"To me, these mountains represent my parents, grandparents, ancestors, leaders, community, church and nation. But the highest mountain is our Heavenly Father, who is the creator of everything, including us.  

That was the message I wanted to share. These are the mountains that have paved the way for my blessings. It was also a chance to acknowledge their hard work, their tautua toto and tautua matavela." 

Looking back on his journey, Omeka says his achievement would not have been possible without the encouragement of those who have supported him every step of the way. 

"I mainly want to acknowledge the support of my family, my extended aiga, my EFKS Weymouth Church, my spiritual parents, Reverend Senetenari and faletua, Leono Autagavaia, my village of Nofoali'i in Samoa, and my principal, staff and teachers at Alfriston College. I'm grateful to everyone who supported me throughout this journey." 

With one goal achieved, Omeka is already looking ahead.   

"My goals for the future are to achieve more, not just academically, but in sport and cultural experiences as well. As the saying goes, the sky is the limit." 

Omeka’s speech: 

O le faamoemoe ua taunuu, o le laau ole soifua lea. E ui lava ise tofa loloto ma se fa’autaga mamao, e le fa’ataunuuina pe ana le o gatasi ma le finagalo o le Silisili Ese. 

Ou te muai fa’atalofa atu I lau susuga I le ta’ita’I ole sauniga, fa’atalofa atu I le laulau mamalu a outou afioga I fa’amasino, ofo alofa atu ia Samoa ma le fa’afofoga tapuai mai aemaise nai o’u uso ma tuafafine tauva. Talofa lava! 

O lo’u igoa o Omeka Fau, tausaga 13 mai le Kolisi o Alfristone Manurewa. 

O le autu ua ou filifilia mo la’u tautalaga: E moni e afua mai mauga tetele so’u manuia? 

O lo’o aumai ose fesili, ma o la’u tali iai: E moni ma faamaoni, ou te lagolagoina le autu 

Sei o’u vailili muamua lava uiga o upu o le fesili, mo le fa’alauteleina o la’u autu. 

Afua: ole amataga poo le faapogai ose mea, Mauga tetele: e faatusa lea I matua, matua matutua, ta’ita’I poo fa’auluuluga o faalapotopotoga, aiga, nuu, malo ma ekalesia, A o le mauga pito I sili ona tele, o le Atua lea na faia le lagi ma le lalolagi. Manuia: ose fa’amanuiaga, meaalofa taua, o se taunuuga lelei. 

E mafai ona ou toe faapea atu: O le faapogai o meaalofa taua ua ou maua e mai matua, matua matutua ma taitai o malo ma ekalesia ae fa’asilisili ai le Atua ua ou maua ai le malosi ma le ola. 

O nisi nei o mau e lagoinalagoina ai la’u autu: 

(1) O matua ua fai I lagi le folauga, o tulatoa totoa ma ta’ita’I o le tatou malo o Samoa ua lagomau mai tiasa. O I latou sa asaina le gasu o le taeao ma tauina le saolotoga o lo tatou malo, lea ua maua ai lo tatou malo tutoatasi ma ua 64 ai tausaga talu ona tutoatasi le malo o Samoa. O lo’u manuia foi lena 

(2) O ta’ita’I o ekalesia eseese, o lo’o tatalo ma talosia ile ao ma le po aua se manuia o tagata lotu, ma le lalolagi atoa. O I latou o auauna Paia a le Atua ua iai Lana fa’auuga mana e manuia ai I tatou uma. O le mana o a latou tatalo, lea ua ou manuia ai foi. 

(3) O o’u matua ma matua matutua, sa galulue malolosi ile tauatinaeina o le aiga. O lo latou sogasoga, tapuaiga, finau, tatalo ma anapogi ua ou manuia ai. Ua mafai ai na ou oo mai I lenei atunuu malulu, ma ua ou maua ai avanoa lelei I aoaoga, soifua maloloina fa’atusatusa ile eseesega ma si o tatou atunuu I Samoa. 

(4) Mulia’I ae le itiiti, O le Atua le tama, le Alo ma le Agaga Sa. O le faapogai o manuia ma mea lelei uma lava. O ia lava na faia le lagi ma le lalolagi, e leai lava se e tusa ma Ia. Na ia foai mai lona Alo pele toatasi o Iesu Keriso,na maliu ma toetu manumalo ona ole faaolaina o le lalolagi agasala. O lena ua e manuia ma ou manuia ai foi. Ia viia pea Lana Afio e faavavau! 

Le aofia ma lau faafofoga mai, o motugaafa ga e lagolagoina ai la’u autu. E moni ma faamaoni lo’u taofi, e afua mai mauga tetele so’u manuia. O taitaiga, alafua ma fa’asinomaga sa fa’ata’atitia e outou tuaa ma o’u matua, lea ua tatou manuia ai. O lo’o molimau le tusi a Salamo, mataupu 72 fuaiupu e 3 “E fua mai mauga le manuia mo le nu’u, ma mauga iti e fua mai I le amiotonu. E le lava upu e fa’afetaia ai galuega fita, le tautua toto ma le tautua matavela, sa gapatia nai o tatou ta’ita’I o aiga, nuu, malo ma ekalesia lea ua tatou sapi ai I manuia sautualasi. 

Avea foi lenei avanoa e fa’afetaia ai pea a outou afioga I mauga tetele, o lo’o taulamua e fa’aauauina pea lenei fa’amoemoe aua le manuia o matou le fanau iti. E le taumate le tele o luitau o loo feagai ai, ae leo fa’avaivai ai lava, ona o le moni o le alofa I alo ma fanau a lo tatou atunuu, ia manuia ma oa pea ile gagana Samoa 

Manuia tele lau susuga ile taitai ole sauniga, manuia a outou afioga I faamasino, manuia uso ma tuafafine tauva , ae ola Omeka I le alofa ole Atua 

Soifua ma ia manuia!