New Zealand Schools’ Debating

There was an article in the Otago Daily Times about the 2010 Russell McVeagh Otago / Southland Regional Schools’ Debating Team – click here to read it.

The Council has appointed Joe Connell as this year’s Nationals Chief Adjudicator.

Joe is a highly experienced schools debating coach and adjudicator. He won the National Champs in 2002 as a member of the CNI Team and coached the CNI Team in 2006 and 2007. He has adjudicated at the Wellington, CNI and Hawke’s Bay Regional tournaments for a number of years and was a highly successful university debater who has been the best speaker at all three major NZ tournaments.

The Council has also appointed Christopher Bishop and Gareth Richards to join Joe as part of the Motions Committee for this year’s tournament.

Christopher is the President of the Schools’ Debating Council and has served on the Nationals Motions Committee for a number of years. He recently adjudicated at the World Schools’ Debating Championships for New Zealand.

Gareth is a former executive officer of the Council, coach of a Wellington regional team, and competitor at Nationals for CNI in 2001. He has adjudicated at numerous regional tournaments in New Zealand as well as at the World University and Australasian Intervarsity Debating Championships.

The New Zealand Schools Debating Council has now opened applications for the following positions for the National Finals of the Russell McVeagh New Zealand Schools’ Debating Championships:

• Chief Adjudicator of the National Finals (1)
• Adjudicators of the National Finals (no set number)
• Motions Committee for the National Finals (3)

Below you will find role descriptions for each of the above three positions.
 
To apply, please send a short debating and/or adjudication CV to the President of the New Zealand Schools’ Debating Council (president@debating.org.nz) by 5pm on Friday June 11. Appointments will be made early the following week.
 
Please pass this message on to all who might be interested.
 
Chief Adjudicator
 
The Chief Adjudicator heads the Motions Committee for Nationals (explained below). They also advise the Council on the appointment of adjudicators for Nationals. During the weekend the Chief Adjudicator is responsible for the allocation of adjudicators to debates (preliminary rounds, semi-finals and Grand Final) and the running of the draw. The Chief Adjudicator is also head of the panel which selects the Russell McVeagh New Zealand Schools’ Debating Team.
 
The Chief Adjudicator obviously must be available to be at Nationals in Wellington from 6 to 9 August. The Council will meet the flight and accommodation costs of the Chief Adjudicator should they hail from outside Wellington.
 
Adjudicators

We are also looking for adjudicators for Nationals. If you:

• are experienced at judging schools’ debates;
• can deliver articulate oral adjudications;
• command respect as an adjudicator; and
• are available to be in Wellington from Friday 6 to Monday 9 August;

Then we’d love to hear from you. Judges from outside of Wellington will have their flight and accommodation costs covered by the Council.

Motions Committee

The Motions Committee consists of the Chief Adjudicator and two other persons. The Committee decides all the motions used at Nationals.

To apply for any or all of the above positions, please send a short debating and/or adjudication CV to the President of the New Zealand Schools’ Debating Council (president@debating.org.nz) by 5pm on Friday June 11. Appointments will be made early the following week.