The 17-year-old Logan Park High School pupil was delighted with his win in the senior English section and was looking forward to representing the southern region again at the 2014 national final in Hastings in September.
''Let's just say I was the youngest competitor and near the bottom of the board last year.
They were among 41 speakers at the regional competition, held in Invercargill recently.
Te Wharekura o Arowhenua School (Invercargill) pupils Thomas Aerepo-Morgan (16) and Riani Wainui-Dunn (14) won the senior Maori and junior Maori sections, respectively.
Jacobi's speech highlighted the need for schools to focus on improving Maori attendance, engagement, retention and achievement in order to address the negative national statistics they present.
He said education was ''the gateway to better outcomes in all areas of life''.
''I want to inspire the nation to lift itself to a better place.''
He was also in the team which represented Otago at this year's Sheilah Winn Shakespeare competition in Wellington, and will return to Wellington again later this month to represent Otago at the Model United Nations.