In the 17-year-old's first outing in a major speech contest, he has won the national final Lions International young speechmaker of the year contest.
He has been learning speech under the direction of St Kevin's teacher Karen Austin for three years and was convinced by her to enter the contest, even though his experience was limited to competing in the Catholic secondary schools' Bishops Shield and after-match speeches as North Otago representative rugby captain.
"Mrs Austin arrived with the entry form at rugby practice and I signed it on top of her car," he said.
He won the regional Lions final earlier this year in Oamaru, then competed against 18 other regional winners in Napier at Taradale High School last Saturday.
First he delivered a six-minute prepared speech on methamphetamine, then an impromptu speech on humility, the subject selected by the judges.
On his trip to the US and Canada, where he will compete in an international final, he will be hosted by Lions members' families and asked to speak on New Zealand.
