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National | Health

Gas fumes disrupt Manu Kōrero Competition

Earlier today, the venue for the Ngā Manu Kōrero National Speech Competition in Whangarei had to be evacuated after numerous reports of a strong gas smell in the Whangarei area. This is the second day of competition with the winners to be announced at the conclusion of today's proceedings.

Te Kura Māori o Ngā Tapuwae were on stage with their support song when the directive came to evacuate the venue due to the strong gas smell.

Te Kura Māori o Ngā Tapuwae competitor Moana Cook says, “Initially, I thought they were leaving because they didn't like us but that wasn't the case.”

The fire service was using precaution due to the high number of gas-related reports in the Whangarei area this morning.

Senior Station Officer Paul Thompson told Te Kāea, “We've had a smell of gas in the building which we've investigated using our multi-gas detectors and we've had no readings on those detectors. We've come from Kamo they've had the same sort of smells up there and down thru state highway one and we haven’t been unable to determine what is causing it.”

Robert Diamond from the organising committee says, “The managers of this centre have advised that a truck carrying gas along the Whangarei bypass is believed to have leaked from Kamo all the way down to Maunu and that's why we're all smelling gas.”

Te Kura Māori o Ngā Tapuwae returned to the stage to complete the Sir Turi Carroll section.

It's the second day of competition and a very important one with the winners of Ngā Manu Kōrero for this year to be named at the conclusion of the event. The management committee see the evacuation as an act of god and is relieved that no one was hurt.

“No one was hurt. Everyone listened to the directions given by the management committee by evacuating the venue and waiting patiently and then returning to get on with what we're here for,” says Diamond.