Wanganui High School defend CNI Title
On 13-14 April the 2013 Russell McVeagh Central North Island Regional Debating Championships were held at Palmerston North Boys’ High School. With sixteen teams from Wanganui, Palmerston North, and Marton taking part, this was the largest competition in recent years and one of high quality.
Over the course of the five preliminary rounds, students debated the motions “This House supports the establishment of charter schools in New Zealand”, “This House believes that New Zealand and Australia should militarily intervene in Fiji”, “This House believes that there should be equal primetime television coverage of men’s and women’s sports”, “This House believes that important medical decisions about children’s health should be made by doctors and not by their parents” and “This House believes we should prohibit all private donations to political campaigns.”
On Sunday afternoon the tournament was narrowed to semi-finals, with Wanganui High School B, Wanganui Collegiate, St Peter’s College A and Palmerston North Boys’ High School A all breaking on four wins. From two passionate and high quality debates on the motion “This House believes that the welfare system should aim to provide a comfortable lifestyle, rather than a lifestyle which is just above the poverty level”, Wanganui High School B and St Peter’s College A bested their opponents to make it to the Grand Final.
The Grand Final was held in the Boys’ High library on the topic “This House believes that graduates from New Zealand Universities should be required to work in New Zealand for a number of years after graduating.” The debate was entertaining, topical and closely fought, with Wanganui High School B declared the winners by a 2-1 split decision, winning the Hardie Boys Cup for an impressive third year in a row.
A series of awards were presented at the prize-giving.
Highly Commended:
Megan Chamberlain (Freyberg High School)
Liam Barber (Palmerston North Boys’ High School)
Avroneel Ghose (Palmerston North Boys’ High School)
Amman Merchant (Wanganui High School)
Callum Tatton (Palmerston North Boys’ High School)
Reserve to the CNI Team:
Gabrielle Penn (Wanganui High School)
Central North Island Team 2012:
Savanna Gaskell (Nga Tawa)
Lucy Robinson (Wanganui Collegiate)
Rhaz Solomon (Wanganui High School)
Best Speaker: Savanna Gaskell (Nga Tawa)
The adjudicators were all impressed by how enthusiastic and responsive to feedback the debaters were, even near the end of the gruelling and intense weekend. Thanks to all the teachers and families who came to support their teams. A special thanks to Palmerston North Boys’ High School for their invaluable help in hosting this year.
A final thanks to the adjudicators who travelled from Wellington for the weekend – Stephen Whittington, Udayan Mukherjee, Daniel Wilson, Emma Smith, Aric Shakur, Jake Brown and Elise Munden.
