New Zealand Schools’ Debating

This afternoon Nick, Maria and Jasmin beat Estonia by 3-0, opposing the motion “This House supports compulsory physical education in schools”.

New Zealand is therefore on two wins and six from six judges.

Tomorrow morning Josh, Aria and Jasmin take on Romania, proposing “That all nations have a right to nuclear weapons”. In the afternoon the team is against the United States on an impromptu motion.

New Zealand won against Slovakia in a 3-0 decision, affirming the motion “That we should support military intervention in Somalia”. Josh, Maria and Aria debated.

The 2010 Russell McVeagh New Zealand Schools’ Debating Team, along with New Zealand’s adjudicators and supporters, have arrived in Doha. The tournament kicks off tonight with a formal dinner.

Tomorrow is dedicated to adjudicator training while the teams tour Doha.

Rounds 1 and 2 are on Wednesday February 10. In R1 New Zealand are against Estonia on a prepared motion, proposing “That we should support military intervention in Somalia”. In R2 New Zealand are negating against Slovakia on an impromptu topic.

Doha is ten hours behind New Zealand. We expect round 1 will finish around 10pm New Zealand time on that day. Round 2 will finish around 4pm, which is around 2am NZ time the following day (Thursday).

The Russell McVeagh New Zealand Schools Debating Team leaves on Friday for the 2010 World Schools’ Debating Champs in Doha, Qatar.

New Zealand is the reigning World Schools Debating Champions after winning the title in Athens, Greece, last February.

The team consists of Maria English (Captain, Samuel Marsden Collegiate School), Nick Cross (Scots College), Aria Newfield (St Cuthbert’s College), Josh Baxter (Auckland Grammar School) and Jasmin Moran (Chilton St James School).

The team is coached by Clodagh O’Connor-McKenna and will be accompanied by adjudicators Kevin Moar, Christopher Bishop, Claire Ryan, and Rosemary Dixon.

The draw for the tournament was released yesterday:

Round 1 (prepared): “That we should support military intervention in Somalia”
New Zealand v Slovakia

Round 2 (impromptu)
Estonia v New Zealand

Round 3 (prepared): “That every country should have the right to possess nuclear weapons”
New Zealand v Romania

Round 4 (impromptu)
United States v New Zealand

Round 5 (prepared): “That doctors should report evidence of marital abuse to the police”
United Arab Emirates v New Zealand

Round 6 (impromptu)
New Zealand v Israel

Round 7 (prepared): “That terrorist suspects should have a right to a trial in civilian courts”
Nigeria v New Zealand

Round 8 (impromptu)
New Zealand v Australia

Results of each debate will be posted here during the tournament. The first round is on Tuesday February 9.  Wednesday February 10.

The New Zealand Development Team have finished as runners-up at the QatarDebate mini-WSDC in Doha. New Zealand lost in the Grand Final to Team Chile.

On the way to the final they defeated the United Arab Emirates affirming “This House believes we should adapt to climate change, not prevent it”, China when opposing “This House believes we should ban boxing”, the United States when affirming “That reality tv does more harm than good”, and Sudan when affirming “This House supports military intervention in Somalia”. They lost one debate – to Chile.

New Zealand also did very well on the speaker tab:

• Nick Orr was ranked 7th
• Sophie Boot was ranked 5th
• Alex Morris was ranked 2nd
• James Penn was ranked 1st!

This is an incredible achievement for a team of year 10 and 11 students (some of whom have not even attended Nationals) and bodes very well for the future of New Zealand schools debating. Well done!

EDIT: Friday, 11pm – corrected topics and added Sudan debate.

A New Zealand Development Team of 5th formers from around New Zealand is currently in Doha, Qatar for a mini-World Schools’ Debating Championships. The tournament is designed for for developing countries and those new to the World Schools format; however New Zealand was also invited to attend.

With the current New Zealand team all having exams, the Executive (with the aid of regional convenors) selected a New Zealand development team to participate in the tournament. The team is: Sophie Boot (Christchurch Girls’ High School), Tim Robinson (St Bede’s College), James Penn (Wanganui High School), Nick Orr (Auckland Grammar School) and Alex Morris (Karamu High School).

The team is being coached by Clodagh O’Connor-McKenna (the current NZ team coach) and is also accompanied by NZSDC alumnus Ranald Clouston, who will be adjudicating the tournament.

The Council thanks QatarDebate for their generosity in flying the team to Qatar and hosting them for the duration of the tournament.

The Council is pleased to announce the appointment of Clodagh O’Connor-McKenna to the position of Coach of the 2009 Russell McVeagh New Zealand Schools’ Debating Team.

Clodagh has an outstanding record as a coach at a national level. In 2007, the Wellington team she co-coached won the New Zealand Schools’ Debating Championships, with all three members selected in the NZ Team. In 2008, a Wellington team she co-coached reached the Grand Final of the tournament, and in 2009 her Wellington team won the tournament again.

Clodagh is a former winner of the New Zealand Schools’ Debating Championships herself (in 2004) and has achieved considerable success at a university level, such as reaching the octo-finals of the Australasian Intervarsity Debating Champs and the Grand Final of the NZ Universities’ Impromptu Champs.

The Council is sure she will do an excellent job.

• be experienced at judging debates in the World Schools format (which is what is used in New Zealand)
• be able to judge from round one of Worlds (ie, not be a trainee or shadow judge for the first few rounds due to inexperience or having recently attended the tournament);
• represent New Zealand with pride and professionalism at the tournament; and
• Have shown a past or future committment to New Zealand schools’ debating

New Zealand is considering bidding for the right to host the World Schools’ Debating Championships in February 2012. If you are interested in joining the bid team for the tournament and/or the organising committee, please get in touch with Rosy Moar at rosymoar@gmail.com

On Monday 11 May the Prime Minister of New Zealand, Hon John Key, hosted a reception in the Grand Hall of the New Zealand Parliament to congratulate the world champion Russell McVeagh New Zealand Schools’ Debating Team.

Update: Photos from this event are now available in the photo gallery.

The speeches from the event were videoed and you can see them by clicking here or at the bottom of this post. The Prime Minister speaks first, followed by Maria English (Captain of the NZ team), Tim Clarke (Partner at Russell McVeagh), and Christopher Bishop, the President of the New Zealand Schools’ Debating Council.

Also present were the Minister of Education, Hon Anne Tolley, the Attorney-General, Hon Christopher Finlayson, the Minister of Revenue, Hon Peter Dunne, and Jacinda Ardern MP (a New Zealand Schools’ Debating Council alumna), along with proud family and friends.

First it was Jen, now it’s Maria’s turn to talk to Paul Henry on Breakfast. Check out the interview here.