About
Since its establishment in 1988 the New Zealand Schools’ Debating Council has worked to promote debating in secondary schools around the country. The Council is responsible for the organisation of Regional Championships that are held throughout New Zealand in Terms I and II of the school year. Teams are selected at each tournament to represent each region at the National Finals of the Russell McVeagh New Zealand Schools’ Debating Championships held annually in Wellington in August each year.
At the National Championships, the Russell McVeagh New Zealand Schools’ Debating Team is selected to represent New Zealand at the World Schools’ Debating Championships. New Zealand has a proud record at “Worlds”, having won the tournament four times since 1988 (in 1991, 1992, 1995 and 2009).
If you want to enter a team in your Regional Championships or would like to find out more, then please get in touch with your Regional Convenor, by using the links on the right. For more information about the Council, please email the President, Christopher Bishop.
The Council is very grateful for the generous ongoing support of Russell McVeagh, New Zealand’s leading law firm, who sponsor the Council’s activities.
The New Zealand Schools’ Debating Council (Inc.)
Patron: His Excellency the Honourable Sir Anand Satyanand, PCNZM, Governor-General of New Zealand
Executive Officers
President: Christopher Bishop
Vice President: Rosemary Moar
Treasurer: Yogesh Patel
Executive Officers: Desley Horton and Clodagh O’Connor-McKenna
Non-Executive Officer
Pei Huang (Webmaster)
Regional Convenors (2010)
Northland: George Minton
Auckland: Stephanie Thompson
Waikato: Akif Malik
Central North lsland: Yogesh Patel
Hawke’s Bay: Udayan Mukherjee & Tom Mathews
Wellington: Stephen Whittington
Nelson / Malborough: Rose Austen
Canterbury: Erin Jackson
Otago / Southland: William Cheyne
Life Members
Rosemary Dixon
Alexandra Gillespie
Anna Livesey
Claire Ryan
Hayden Ryan
Dr. Andrew Stockley
Jeremy Johnson
