Raise Your Voice, Sing for Justice - announcing our 2026 winners!
The SINGout4JUSTICE competition for 2026 has officially closed, and we're thrilled to announce our winners and highly commended entries!
This year students were invited to "Raise Your Voice, Sing for Justice" — composing an original song or performing an existing one that speaks up for environmental justice, peace, human dignity, or another social justice issue close to their hearts. The response was extraordinary: 32 entries with 446 students across all six dioceses took part.
From Year 0 to Year 13, ākonga from Catholic schools across Aotearoa shared their musical gifts and their convictions. Their entries moved and inspired us — powerful reminders that young voices can carry big messages.
We extend our heartfelt congratulations to our winners, who have shown a real commitment to and love for their faith, alongside a genuine desire to make the world a better place. Thank you for your contribution to this important kaupapa.
And to every student who took part — thank you. Your voices have truly made a difference!
Winners - Original Compositions
Senior Category (Yr 11 - 13)
Two outstanding original songs, both worthy winners of this year’s competition.
'E tū tahi ana'
Marama Hambly
Samuel Marsden Collegiate School, Wellington
Middle Category (Yr 7 - 10)
'Manaakitanga'
St Mary’s School, Tauranga
Two outstanding original songs, both worthy winners of this year’s competition.
'Treat Me Like One'
Rhys Longid and Angela Rosero
St Pius X School, Melville
'Rich Man’s War'
The Elementals
Leo Henderson, Zach de Graaf, Jake Osbaldison, Rodeson Ferrer, Theo Gabito, Brayden Nix, Zeke Ho
Aquinas College, Tauranga
Phillip Joo, Selena Ogayan, Anna Reneesh, Gabriel Hills, Max McFetridge, Dana Kim Athena Luarez, Sarah Reni, Yuna Stewart, Jett Stoddard, Kalee O'Connor, Evelyn Ann Dino, Tahlia Henderson, Xanthe Kempthorne, Te Kira Daniels, Tom Joo, Helga Shine, Holly Ryder, Lea Neves, Grace Kennedy, Sasha McStravick, Kaeden McCloskey, and Marcus Moby.
Junior Category (Yr 1 - 6)
'A Place For Everyone'
Adrienne Walter-Laulu
St Mary's College, Auckland
Winners - Cover Performances
Senior Category (Yr 11 - 13)
'Ngarra Burra Ferra'
Sia Mau'u, Azaeniah Poe-Timu and Pualani Fononga
St Dominic’s Catholic College, Auckland
Unable to share recording due to copyright restrictions. Original song: 'Ngarra Burra Ferra,' a traditional Yorta Yorta song, popularised by the film The Sapphires (2012).
Middle Category (Yr 7 - 10)
'Man in the Mirror'
Ava Gardner, Evelyn Strange, Becky Ryder
Aquinas College, Tauranga
Unable to share recording due to copyright restrictions. Original song "Man in the Mirror," written by Siedah Garrett and Glen Ballard, first recorded by Michael Jackson (1988).
'A Million Dreams'
St Theresa’s School, Plimmerton
Unable to share recording due to copyright restrictions. Original song "A Million Dreams," written by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, first recorded for the film The Greatest Showman (2017).
Whole School Category
'This Little Light of Mine'
St John the Evangelist Catholic School, Otara
Unable to share recording due to copyright restrictions. Original song "This Little Light of Mine," a traditional African American gospel song of uncertain authorship, dating to the 1920s.
Cooper Baldwin, Mason Gallen, Lucy Barber, Zoey Finiki, Emilia Bleach, Emelia Muollo, Willow Cooling, Georgia Price, Loralei Osbourne, Pippa Segrue, Eva Savesi, Tessa Hasse, Addie Johnstone, Cleo Stace, Flynn Mischewski, Fran Giacosa, Tyler Cheung, Ollie Song, Henry Wakefield, Ada Millington, Zoey Giles, Sophia Docherty, Zoey Van Rensburg, Jasmine Barbarouses, Myla Grimwood, Avery Liao, Annah Odendaal, Maddie Phillipps, Olivia Murphy, Levi Willis, Acacia Davey, Penina Ah Kuoi, Harmoney Verhoeven, Yaya Warking, and Aurora Smigh
Junior Category (Yr 1 - 6)
Highly Commended - Honourable Mentions
'Sampaguita Strings' - Original Senior Category
Alyssa Mediano and Lexi Gutierez (Vocalist)
Roncalli College, Timaru
'Stand Up' - Cover Senior Category
Georgia Jeffrey
Sacred Heart Girls College, New Plymouth
'Broken Times' - Original Middle Category
Mahe Keenan, Seth Manipol, Simona Alvares, Nicolas Kury, and Mitchell Mathers
St Peter’s Catholic School, Cambridge
'Glorious' - Cover Middle Category
Leo Henderson, Zach De Graaf, Blake Gallagher, Levi Drummond, Mikey Francis, and Eli Osborne
Aquinas College, Tauranga
'We Will Care for God’s Creation' - Original Junior Category
Room 20 - Year 2
Supported by: Danielle Lesatele (parent) who wrote and composed this song. Lorielle Cowley (sister of a student) who made the video, and Pearl Gnaniah (teacher) who directed the song.
Holy Cross Catholic School, Henderson
'Raise Your Voice’ - Original Junior Category
Astrid Longid, Annalyn Rosero, Liam Cance, Luna Yap, Shantelle Quintos. and Samantha Quintos
St Pius X School, Melville
'Like Jesus Did' - Original Junor Category
Miguel Legaspi
St Mary’s, Dunedin
'Paraiso' - Cover Junior Category
Lilac Rinoa Jean Encina
Holy Trinity Catholic Primary School, Takanini
'Guardians of Papatūānuku' - Cover Whole School
Whole School
St Mary’s, Dunedin
Congratulations to all the students who have participated in SINGout4JUSTICE competitions over the years!
Your creativity, passion and commitment to justice and peace have inspired us all.
Click the links on the right-hand side to listen to the winning entries and celebrate these powerful student voices.
