New Zealand Schools’ Debating

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

We have also opened applications for the positions of official New Zealand adjudicators at the 2011 World Schools’ Debating Champs in Dundee, Scotland.

The two final regional tournaments for 2011 were held this weekend.

In Dunedin, hosts Logan Park High School emerged as the victors for the first time in the competition’s history, defending last year’s winners, Bayfield High School. The best speaker was James Tocher from Bayfield. Click here for full details.

In the Central North Island, Wanganui High School were the winners over St Peter’s College, only the second time Wanganui Collegiate or Palmerston North Boys’ High School has not won the competition. Elizabeth Begley from St Peter’s was the best speaker. Click here for a report.

And in Canterbury, a selection weekend was held in lieu of the normal Press Cup tournament, which will now be held later in the year. A squad of six talented debaters has been selected. Click here for details on the day.

Wellington College has defeated St Catherine’s College to win the Wellington Regional Debating Champs. Rather incredibly, it is the first time Wellington College has won the tournament, after years of sustained success. Nick Fenton was the best speaker.

Click here for the report and photos.

The New Zealand Schools’ Debating Council is pleased to announce the appointment of Steve Hind to coach the 2011 Russell McVeagh New Zealand Schools’ Debating Team at the World Champs in Scotland and South Africa.

Steve was the captain of the Australian Schools’ Debating Team which won the 2005 World Schools’ Debating Championships. Since then he has gone on to be one of the world’s best university debaters. He won the 2010 World Universities’ Debating Championships for Sydney University and ranked as the 2nd best speaker in the world. He has won the Australasian Intervarsity Debating Champs (2008), along with a range of other university tournaments.

Steve recently coached the 2010 NZ Team on the Russell McVeagh International Tour, where the team reached the semi-finals. In Australia, Steve was the coach of the New South Wales Schools Team in 2010, and for the last four years has coached the NSW Combined GPS Team which were grade champions in 2007 and 2008. He has been the Sydney Grammar School Senior A Coach since 2007. The team won the GPS competition in 2007, 2009 and 2010.

Assistant Coach

The Council has deferred the appointment of the assistant coach to the NZ Team until after the National Champs in late May.

The Waikato Regional Champs were held over the weekend, with Hamilton Boys’ High School defeating Hillcrest High in the final. Thomas Simpson (Hamilton Boys’) was the best speaker.

Full report to follow.

Two more Russell McVeagh Regional Debating Champs were held this weekend.

In Hastings, Napier Girls’ High School beat Karamu High School to win their first ever Hawke’s Bay title. Elise Munden of Napier Girls’ was the best speaker. Click here for a report, and more photos.

In Auckland, Mt Albert Grammar School defeated King’s College to win their first ever Auckland title. Ishika Jayasinghe from St Cuthbert’s was the best speaker. Click here for more.

This year’s Russell McVeagh New Zealand Schools’ Debating Team will be taking part in TWO World Schools Debating Championships. The first Worlds is in Dundee, Scotland, from 16 – 26 August, 2011. The second Worlds is in Cape Town, South Africa, from 17 – 27 January, 2012.
 
Applications are now open for the position of NZ Coach, and the position of assistant coach.
 
Our preference is to appoint the NZ Coach for the Worlds in both Dundee and Cape Town now. However, we will accept applications from those interested in just Dundee. We are not accepting applications from those interested in Cape Town at this stage (if the eventual coach is appointed for Dundee only, then we will obviously re-open applications for Cape Town later).
 
We are opening applications for the assistant coach position for Dundee only.
Please pass this email onto those who you think may be interested.
 
Please note that applications will close on Friday March 11 at 5pm.
 
NZ TEAM COACH
 
Role of the Coach
 
The role of the NZ Team Coach is to prepare the NZ team team thoroughly for the upcoming World Champs. The coach is expected to attend the tournament in his/her capacity as coach.
 
The coach will be expected to organise (in conjunction with the Council) training sessions for the team in advance of the tournament, and to run those sessions.
 
The NZ team manager will assist with organising travel etc, liaising with the teams, and other non-debating matters that arise. The team manager will also act as the key contact point between the Council and the coach.
 
Time Commitment
 
The coach will be expected to travel to Worlds with the NZ Team. In the time between the date of appointment and the tournament, the coach will be expected to make themselves available to coach the team on mutually acceptable dates for the team members and the coach.
 
We would prefer it if the coach could also attend the National Finals of the NZ Schools Debating Champs in Wellington from May 27 – May 30. The Council will cover transport and accommodation costs to allow the coach to attend.
 
Costs
 
The Council will meet the reasonable travel and accommodation costs for the coaches to attend training sessions, if they are not held where the coaches live.
 
The coaches will be expected to pay a contribution towards the travel costs of sending him or her to Worlds. This contribution has not yet been set by Council, but will be no more than $1000 NZD.
 
If applications are made by a pair of coaches on a co-coach basis, the Council will re-evaluate the contribution of each coach.
 
Appointment Process
 
The appointment process will be as follows:
 
1. Applicants need to send:

• a coaching/debating CV;
• a letter which explains why they would like the job, why they would be a good coach for the NZ team, and which comments on their strengths as a coach (applicants should feel free to provide as much info as they would like);
• the name of one person who would be happy to be contacted as an oral referee to the NZ team manager, Christopher Bishop, by Friday March 11 at 5pm on cjsbishop@gmail.com

2. Team manager to consider applications and meet with Council to create a shortlist of applicants.
  
3. Oral referees of shortlisted applicants to be contacted.
  
4. Council may authorise a sub-committee to conduct an interview with short-listed applicants if deemed necessary.
  
5. Council to advise applicants of outcomes by Friday March 18.
 
ASSISTANT COACH
 
We are also looking for an assistant coach of the NZ Team for Worlds in Dundee. The position is designed for someone who may like to coach the NZ team in the future, and who would like to gain some experience and skills by learning from the NZ coach proper. The assistant coach will work with the NZ Team coach in preparing the team for Worlds in Dundee.
 
People who have coached or are coaching regional teams are encouraged to apply for this position.
 
The Council will help pay for the assistant coach to attend the NZ team training sessions in advance of Worlds in Dundee. The assistant coach is also encouraged to attend the World Champs with the team. Due to the registration restrictions in Dundee, the assistant coach will need to attend as an official New Zealand adjudicator. To this end, the Council will set aside one of New Zealand’s two judging slots at the tournament for the assistant coach.
 
Unfortunately, the assistant coach will have to cover their own flights to Worlds and their registration costs (480 British pounds).
 
Appointment Process
 
The appointment process will be as follows:
 
1. Applicants need to send:

• a coaching/debating CV;
• a letter which explains why they would like the job, why they would be a good assistant coach for the NZ team, and which comments on their strengths as a coach (applicants should feel free to provide as much info as they would like). Comments as to future coaching intentions would also be welcomed.
• the name of one person who would be happy to be contacted as an oral referee to the NZ team manager, Christopher Bishop, by Friday March 11 at 5pm on cjsbishop@gmail.com

2. Team manager to consider applications and meet with Council to create a shortlist of applicants.
  
3. Oral referees of shortlisted applicants to be contacted.
  
4. Council may authorise a sub-committee to conduct an interview with short-listed applicants if deemed necessary.
  
5. Council to advise applicants of outcomes by Friday March 18

In news just in from the regions, Nayland College has won the Kahurangi – Marlborough Regional Schools’ Debating Champs (the renamed Nelson / Marlborough region), and Kerikeri High School has continued its domination of the Northland Regional Champs.

Kimberly Savill was best speaker at Kahurangi – Marlborough and Michael Prendergast was best speaker in Northland.

Click here for a full report on Kahurangi – Marlborough.

Two members of winning Nayland College team

A nice story from the Hawke’s Bay Today newspaper about the International Tour. It certainly was “A War of Words for Debating Apprentices!”

Photos from the tour can be found here.

Australia have won the 2011 Russell McVeagh International Schools Debating Tour, after defeating Canada West in the Grand Final at Auckland Grammar tonight.

Australia successfully affirmed the topic, “This House believes the United States should stop financially supporting dictatorships in the Middle East”, winning in a 3-0 decision.

Top five speakers:

1. Charlotte Thomas (Australia)
2. Ned-Lis Clarke (Australia)
3. Kieran Bunn (New Zealand)
4. Duncan McLachlan (New Zealand)
5=Antony Paul (Australia)
5=Peter McCauley (Canada East)