New Zealand Schools’ Debating

The 2011 National Finals of the Russell McVeagh New Zealand Schools’ Debating Championships were held from 27 to 30 May at Victoria University of Wellington.

Twelve regional teams from Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Hawke’s Bay, Central North Island, Wellington, Kahurangi-Marlborough, Canterbury and Otago-Southland took part in the competition. The regional teams comprised the best speakers from the hundreds of debaters who competed at various regional competitions held earlier in the year.

On Saturday and Sunday each team competed in five preliminary round debates at Victoria University’s Pipitea Campus. In the preliminary rounds the teams debated the following topics:

• This House would reintroduce a youth minimum wage
• This House would compel doctors to report suspected cases of domestic violence to the police
• This House believes New Zealand should become a republic
• This House would impose trade sanctions on nations that refuse to take action on climate change
• This House believes the posession of drugs for personal use should not be a crime

After the five preliminary rounds, the top four teams were Waikato (five wins), Auckland Blue (four wins), Wellington Gold (three wins), and Kahurangi-Marlborough (three wins). Sadly, Wellington Black and Auckland White missed out on win points.

The motion for the semi-final was: “This House would offer amnesty to dictators who step down”. Waikato defeated Kahurangi-Marlborough in a 2-1 decision and Auckland Blue defeated Wellington Gold, also in a 2-1 decision, setting up a Waikato v Auckland Grand Final.

The Grand Final was again hosted by Hon. Peter Dunne in the Legislative Council Chamber of Parliament, before distinguished guests His Excellency the Right Honourable Sir Anand Satyanand, Governor-General, Lady Satyanand, Hamish McIntosh, Partner at Russell McVeagh, and an audience of several hundred school students.

The final debate was humorous and passionate. The topic was “That New Zealand needs Don Brash” with Waikato taking the affirmative side and Auckland the negative. After a very close debate, the Waikato team of Christopher Jury, Thomas Simpson, and Kayla Grant were declared the winners in a unanimous decision.

After the Grand Final the members of the 2011 Russell McVeagh New Zealand Schools Debating team were announced. The five member team is made up of Nick Orr (Captain, Auckland Grammar School), Edward Foley (Wellington College), Rayhan Langdana (Wellington College), Thomas Simpson (Hamilton Boys’ High School) and James Penn (Wanganui High School).

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. We are also grateful to Victoria University of Wellington who hosted the Championships during the weekend.

Thanks too to everyone who contributed to making the Championships such a memorable weekend – adjudicators, coaches, chairpeople, and many other helpers.

Here are the full list of results from Nationals 2011.

Winners: Waikato
Christopher Jury (Hamilton Boys’ High School)
Thomas Simpson (Hamilton Boys’ High School)
Kayla Grant (Hillcrest High School)
Coach: Josh Baxter

Runners-Up: Auckland Blue
Nick Orr (Auckland Grammar School)
Ishika Jayasinghe (St Cuthbert’s College)
Frederick Thursfield (King’s College)
Coaches: Stephanie Thompson and Glenn Riddell

Highly Commended speakers:
Ishika Jayasinghe (St Cuthbert’s College)
Kayla Grant (Hillcrest High School)
Nick Fenton (Wellington College)

Rosemary Dixon Cup for the Most Promising Speaker:
Christopher Jury (Hamilton Boys’ High School)

Reserves to the 2011 Russell McVeagh New Zealand Schools’ Debating Team:
Kimberley Savill (Nayland College)
Lucy Harrison (Mt Albert Grammar School)

2011 Russell McVeagh New Zealand Schools’ Debating Team:
Edward Foley (Wellington College)
Nick Orr (Auckland Grammar School)
Rayhan Langdana (Wellington College)
Thomas Simpson (Hamilton Boys’ High School)
James Penn (Wanganui High School)

Russell McVeagh Cup for the Best Speaker at the 2011 National Championships:
Thomas Simpson (Hamilton Boys’ High School)

Andrew Stockley Cup for the Captain of the 2011 Russell McVeagh New Zealand Schools’ Debating Team:
Nick Orr (Auckland Grammar School)

The New Zealand Schools’ Debating Council now has a twitter account. Twitter users should follow @nzsdc or non-twitter users can see the updates at www.twitter.com/nzsdc. We’ll be posting round by round results of the National Champs which start tomorrow!

Below is the Nationals 2011 timetable.

CHAMPIONSHIPS TIMETABLE
 
Friday 27 May
12:30-4:30 pm Registration at the Ibis Hotel, 153 Featherston Street, Wellington.
5:30 pm Assemble at Russell McVeagh, Level 24, Mobil on the Park, 157 Lambton Quay.
              Light Meal available from 5:30 to 6:00pm.
6:00 pm Opening of the New Zealand Finals. Briefing for all teams.
6:30 pm Mix and Match debate. Speakers will be put into teams with speakers from other regions for a limited preparation debate.
8:30 pm Return to Ibis Hotel.
 
Saturday 28 May
7.30 am Breakfast at Ibis Hotel
8:30 am Assemble at Rutherford House, Victoria University of Wellington, corner of Lambton Quay and Bunny Street.
             Topic for Round 1 announced (one hour preparation)
9:30 am Round 1
11:00 am Morning tea
11:30 am Topic for Round 2 announced (one hour preparation)
12:30 pm Round 2
1:45 pm Lunch
2:30 pm Topic for Round 3 announced (one hour preparation)
3:30 pm Round 3
5:00 pm Return to Ibis Hotel
7:00 pm Quiz and pizza night for competitors at Rutherford House
9:30 pm Competitors return to Ibis Hotel.
 
Sunday 29 May
8:00 am Breakfast at Ibis Hotel
9:00 am Assemble at Rutherford House
             Topic for Round 4 announced (one hour preparation)
10:00 am Round 4
11:30 am Lunch
12:30 pm Topic for Round 5 announced (one hour preparation)
1:30 pm Round 5
3:00 pm Semi-finalists announced, topic for semi-finals announced (one hour preparation)
4:00 pm Semi-finals
5:30 pm Briefing for all teams. Sides for the Grand Final announced.
              Return to Ibis Hotel
7:15 pm Formal Dinner at Zibibbo Restaurant, Old Police Station Building, Taranaki Street
 
Monday 30 May
8.45am Official photographs of all teams on the front steps of Parliament
10:00 am GRAND FINAL at Legislative Council Chamber, Parliament Buildings
11:30 am Presentation of prizes
12:00 pm Refreshments at Grand Hall, Parliament Buildings

The Nationals Grand Final topic is:

That New Zealand needs Don Brash

The Grand Final will be held at 10.00am on Monday 30 May in the Legislative Council Chamber of Parliament in Wellington. If you would like to come and watch, please contact the convenors.