The 2007 National Finals of the Russell McVeagh New Zealand Schools’ Debating Championships were held from 10 – 13 August at the Victoria University of Wellington, Law School. The Championships are the premier schools’ debating competition in New Zealand. Twelve regional teams from Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Hawke’s Bay, Central North Island, Wellington, Nelson-Marlborough, Canterbury and Otago-Southland, competed. The regional teams comprise the best speakers from the hundreds of debaters who competed at various regional competitions held earlier in the year.The Championships, established in 1988, now in their twentieth year, are recognised as the premier debating competition for schools in New Zealand. On Saturday and Sunday each team competed in a mixture of prepared and limited preparation debates at Victoria University’s Pipitea Campus. In the preliminary rounds the teams debated the following topics:
- That the New Zealand Police should have locally-elected District Commanders (prepared topic for rounds 1 and 2);
- This House would legalise performance enhancing drugs in sport;
- This House would cut all ties with Fiji; and
- This House supports nuclear energy for New Zealand.
After the five preliminary rounds, the top four teams were Wellington Black who were unbeaten, Auckland Blue with one loss, and Central North Island and Canterbury Black with two losses. The motion for the semi-final was: “This House believes New Zealand should sign a free trade deal with China.” Auckland Blue and Wellington Black emerged victorious from their semi-finals to set up a rematch of the Auckland versus Wellington finals of 2004, 2005 and 2006!The Grand Final was again hosted by Hon. Peter Dunne in the Legislative Council Chamber of Parliament, before distinguished guests the Commissioner of Police, Mr Howard Broad, Superintendent Hamish McCardle, NZ Police, Mr Tim Clarke, Partner at Russell McVeagh, Dr Mark Fisher, Bioethics Council, Helen Bichan, Bioethics Council and an audience of several hundred. The Wellington Black team consisting of Jaz Nye Morris, Paul Smith and Maria English successfully negated the topic “This House believes that New Zealand Political Parties should be fully State-funded” against the Auckland Blue team consisting of Sam George, Sam Bookman and Stephanie Thompson. In doing so they became the first Wellington team to win the Championships since 2004.After the Grand Final the members of the 2007 Russell McVeagh New Zealand Schools Debating team were announced. The five member team is made up of Jaz Nye Morris (Wellington Black), Paul Smith (Wellington Black), Maria English (Wellington Black), Ella Edginton (Wellington Gold) and Jane Pring ( Central North Island). Jane Pring was named Captain of the New Zealand team for 2007 and Maria English received the Russell McVeagh Cup for the Best Speaker at the Championships. Sam Bookman was named as first reserve for the team. The team will compete against international opposition in early 2008.A New Zealand Schools Development Team was also named consisting of Holly Jenkins (Wellington Gold), Kurt Purdon (Otago-Southland) and Jennifer Savage (Central North Island).
The New Zealand Schools’ Debating Council is very grateful to Russell McVeagh for its continued support of New Zealand Schools’ Debating, which allows these Championships to occur. Also to the Police Act Review and the NZ Police as the National topic sponsor, The Bioethics Council as the regional sponsor and Victoria University as the host of the Championships at the weekend. Thanks too to everyone who contributed to making the Championships such a memorable success – adjudicators, coaches, chairpeople, and many other helpers.
Winners:
Wellington Black
Jaz Morris (Wellington College)
Paul Smith (Scots College)
Maria English (Samuel Marsden Collegiate School)
Coaches: Polly Higbee & Clodagh O’Connor–McKenna
Runners-Up:
Auckland Blue
Sam Bookman (St Kentigern College)
Sam George (Auckland Grammar School)
Stephanie Thompson (Diocesan School)
Coaches: Desley Horton & Glenn Riddell
Highly Commended Speakers:
Catherine Cumpstone (Nayland College)
Sam George (Auckland Grammar School)
Rosemary Dixon Cup for the Most Promising Speaker:
Kurt Purdon (Otago Boys’ High School)
2007 Russell McVeagh New Zealand Schools’ Debating Team Reserve:
Sam Bookman (St Kentigern College)
2007 Russell McVeagh New Zealand Schools’ Development Team:
Holly Jenkins (Sacred Heart College)
Kurt Purdon (Otago Boys’ High School)
Jennifer Savage (Central North Island).
2007 Russell McVeagh New Zealand Schools’ Debating Team:
Jane Pring (Wellington Diocesan School for Girls)
Jaz Morris (Wellington College)
Paul Smith (Scots College)
Maria English (Samuel Marsden Collegiate School)
Ella Edginton (Sacred Heart College)
The Andrew Stockley Cup for Captain of the New Zealand Schools’ Debating Team:
Jane Pring (Wellington Diocesan School for Girls)
The Russell McVeagh Cup for Best Speaker at the Championships:
Maria English (Samuel Marsden Collegiate School)
