Logan Park High School win Otago Regionals
The 2015 Russell McVeagh Otago-Southland Regional Debating Championships were held on the 6th and 7th of March at the University of Otago College of Education. 24 teams from 17 different schools competed, which is the most schools ever to attend an Otago-Southland Regionals.
The following motions were debated across the preliminary rounds; “This house would legalise voluntary euthanasia”; “This house would tie parents’ welfare payments to their children’s educational outcomes”; “This house believes that New Zealand should not have joined the military effort to fight the Islamic State”; “This house believes that gay rights organisations should publicly ‘out’ gay celebrities”; and “This house would abolish the 90-day trial period in employment agreements”.
Breaking to the semi-finals were Columba College 1, Logan Park High School 1, Logan Park High School 2 and Bayfield High School 1. The semi-finalists debated the moot, “This house believes that political parties should allow their members to elect the party leader, instead of MPs from their party.” Columba College 1 successfully affirmed against Bayfield High School 1 in a unanimous 3-0 decision. Logan Park High School 1 successfully affirmed against Logan Park High School 2 in a unanimous 3-0 decision.
The Grand Final was on the topic, “This house believes that western media outlets should republish uncensored cartoons depicting the prophet Muhammed when reporting on threats or attacks against their artists.” Logan Park High School 1 successfully affirmed against Columba College 1 in a 4-1 split decision.
Thank you very much to all the students, parents, and teachers involved, as well as the 20 adjudicators who gave up their time to make the competition a success. Special thanks goes to Rotary Dunedin for proudly sponsoring the competition for the third year in a row.
Congratulations to all the students who received prizes this year.
OUDS Cup (Winners) – Logan Park High School 1
Jacobi Kohu-Morris
Grant McNaughton
Meran Campbell-Hood
Runners Up – Columba College 1
Shanti Girande
Selena Ballantyne
Emily Williams
Rachel Carrell Cup for Best Speaker
Emily Williams (Columba College)
Otago-Southland Regional Team
Emily Williams (Columba College)
Jacobi Kohu-Morris (Logan Park High School)
Selena Ballantyne (Columba College)
Reserves
Beth Clearwater (Bayfield High School)
Meran Campbell-Hood (Logan Park High School)
Highly Commended Speakers
Kelly Stitely (Otago Girls High School)
Louis Jennings (John McGlashan College)
Oscar McGuire (Logan Park High School)
Most Promising Speaker Cup
Grant McNaughton (Logan Park High School)
Development Squad
Ben Clayton (Logan Park High School)
Beth Clearwater (Bayfield High School)
Grant McNaughton (Logan Park High School)
Kelly Stitely (Otago Girls High School)
Louis Jennings (John McGlashan College
Oscar McGuire (Logan Park High School)
Shanti Girande (Columba College)
James Tocher
Otago-Southland Regional Convenor 2015