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 three times since 1988 (in 1991, 1992, and 1995).
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, Jeremy Johnson.
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 Anand Satyanand, PCNZM, Governor-General of New Zealand
Executive Officers
President: Jeremy Johnson
Vice President: Christopher Bishop
Treasurer: Jordan Ward
Executive Officers: Gareth Richards and Rosemary Moar
Non-Executive Officers
Rosemary Dixon
Claire Ryan
Pei Huang
Desley Horton
Eleanor Bishop
Regional Convenors (2008)
Northland: Mitchell Cooper and Kate Mills
Auckland: Desley Horton
Waikato: Laura Hablous
Central North lsland: Josh Cameron
Hawke’s Bay: Armando Neris
Wellington: Stephen Whittington
Nelson / Malborough: Dave Turner
Canterbury: Rose Austen
Otago / Southland: Nicholas Gavey
Life Members
Rosemary Dixon
Alexandra Gillespie
Anna Livesey
Claire Ryan
Hayden Ryan
Dr. Andrew Stockley
Jeremy Johnson
