Results - Waikato

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The Waikato Schools' Regional Debating Championships, and the Waikato Regional team, are proudly sponsored by Edmonds Judd. Edmonds Judd, which has offices in Te Awamutu and Otorohanga, proudly serves the Waikato district and has done so for over 100 years. The firm places emphasis on professional development of staff, to ensure quality advice.

The New Zealand Schools' Debating Council is grateful for Edmonds Judd's support for debating in the Waikato.

The Edmonds Judd Waikato Regional Schools’ Debating Championships for 2024 were held on Sunday 3 March at the University of Waikato with 25 teams in attendance.

It was a very high quality tournament and we’d like to extend a warm thanks to every school that attended. An additional thank you to all the adjudicators who also judged the tournament and to Robert Hoskins and Tiana Mayo for their efforts as convenors.

The Championships commenced with the students hearing from Ryan Hamilton, MP for Hamilton East; who spoke about how the skills that debating teaches you can be useful across a wide range of possible careers.

Following three rounds of preliminary debates, St Peter’s Cambridge and Te Awamutu College progressed to the Junior Finals, while Hamilton Boys’ High School and Hamilton Girls’ High School progressed to the Senior Finals. St Peter’s Cambridge were announced as the winners of the Junior division after a spirited final debate. Congratulations to Alec Fernandez, Henry Han, Lachie Wallace and Xavier Pires.

In the Senior Finals, Hamilton Boys’ High School emerged as the winners of the 2024 Edmonds Judd Waikato Regional Schools’ Debating Championship. Congratulations to Nikash Lanka, Jonathan Crowther, Michael Crowther and Conor McCormack.

A squad of three debaters was chosen to compete at the National Finals of the New Zealand Schools' Debating Championships, which will be held in Wellington in May. The Edmonds Judd Waikato Schools’ Debating Team will be represented by: Katie Li, St Peter’s Cambridge; Jumana Fouda, Hamilton Girls’ High School; and Nikash Lanka, Hamilton Boys’ High School.

Pictured below (from left to right): junior champions (St Peter’s Cambridge); senior champions (Hamilton Boys’ High School); and the 2024 Edmonds Judd Waikato Schools’ Debating Team.

2024 Waikato Junior Final Winners
Senior Final Winners 2024 Waikato
2024 Waikato Regional Team + Reserves

Junior champions - St Peter’s Cambridge: Alec Fernandez, Henry Han, Lachie Wallace, and Xavier Pires.

Champions - Hamilton Boys' High School: Nikash Lanka, Michael Crowther, Jonathan Crowther, and Conor McCormack

Runners-up - Hamilton Girls’ High School: Charlize Fourie, Bianca Slomp, and Jumana Fouda

Promising Speakers: Michael Crowther (Hamilton Boys’ High School) and Eva Walton (Te Awamutu College)

Best speaker: Nikash Lanka (Hamilton Boys’ High School)

Most promising speaker: Jumana Fouda (Hamilton Girls’ High School)

2024 Edmonds Judd Waikato Schools’ Debating Team:
Katie Li (St Peter’s Cambridge);
Jumana Fouda (Hamilton Girls’ High School);
Nikash Lanka (Hamilton Boys’ High School).

Previous Regional Teams

Waikato has competed in the New Zealand Schools’ Debating Championships since 1989, although we do not have records that extend to that date. The regional teams since that time are listed here.

  • 2024

    Katie Li (St Peter’s Cambridge)
    Jumana Fouda (Hamilton Girls’ High School)
    Nikash Lanka (Hamilton Boys’ High School)

    Coaches: Tiana Mayo and Levi Pruden

  • 2023

    Jessica Licht (Hillcrest High School)
    Katie Li (St Peters' Cambridge)
    Daniel Dizon (Hamilton Boys' High School)
    Coaches: Tiana Mayo and Josh Sampson

  • 2022

    Jessica Licht (Hillcrest High School)
    Janet Guo (Hillcrest High School)
    Levi Pruden (Hamilton Boys High School)

    Coaches: Harper Smith, Aisha O'Malley and Aylish Waldron

  • 2021

    Travis Palmer (Hamilton Boys’ High School)
    Robert Hoskin (Hamilton Boys’ High School)
    Andrew Qiu (St Peters’ Cambridge)
    Coaches: Umbar Sandhu, Joe Ascroft and Melissa Connolly.

  • 2020

    Travis Palmer (Hamilton Boys’ High School)
    Robert Hoskin (Hamilton Boys’ High School)
    Andrew Qiu (St Peters’ Cambridge)
    Coaches: Nicholas Goodman and Mitchell Palmer

  • 2019

    Harper Smith (Waikato Diocesan)
    Melissa Connolly (Hamilton Girls’ High School)
    Dominic Beaton (St John’s College)
    Coaches: Umbar Sandhu and Liam Rawlings

  • 2018

    Day-eth Smit (Waikato Diocesan)
    Nicholas Goodman (Hamilton Boys’ High School))
    Dominic Beaton (St John’s College)
    Coaches: Arun Prakash & Zachary Wong

  • 2017

    Day-eth Smit (Waikato Diocesan School for Girls)
    Nicholas Goodman (Hamilton Boys’ High School)
    Dominic Beaton (St John’s College)
    Coaches: Ned Grenfield & Jesse Medcalf

  • 2016

    Andrew Devitt (Tauranga Boys High School)
    Amy Spittal (Waikato Diocesan School for Girls)
    Alex Le Comte (Hamilton Boys High School)
    Coaches: Aditya Vasudevan & Ned Grenfield

  • 2015

    Soumil Singh (Hamilton Boys' High School)
    Hugo Thompson (Tauranga Boys College)
    Cheska Saavedra (Hamilton Girls High School)
    Coaches: Aditya Vasudevan & Kayla Grant

  • 2014

    Fintan Walsh (John Paul College)
    Emily Scrimgeour (Hillcrest High School)
    Olivia Maxwell (Hillcrest High School)
    Coaches: Aditya Vasudevan & Kayla Grant

  • 2013

    Olivia Maxwell (Hillcrest High School)
    Samuel McCabe (Hamilton Boys’ High School)
    Matthew Thompson (Aquinas College)
    Coaches: Thomas Simpson & Lucy Harrison

  • 2012

    Christopher Jury (Hamilton Boys’ High School)
    Thomas Simpson (Hamilton Boys’ High School)
    Kayla Grant (Hillcrest High School)
    Coaches: Joshua Baxter & Holly Jenkins

  • 2011

    Christopher Jury (Hamilton Boys’ High School)
    Thomas Simpson (Hamilton Boys’ High School)
    Kayla Grant (Hillcrest High School)
    Coaches: Joshua Baxter

  • 2010

    Aditya Vasudevan (Hamilton Boys’ High School)
    Thomas Simpson (Hamilton Boys’ High School)
    Tyrone Barugh (St Peter’s School, Cambridge)
    Coach: Akif Malik & Craig Riddell

  • 2009

    Luke Craven (Bethlehem College)
    John Scott-Jones (St Paul’s Collegiate)
    Thomas Libeau (St Peter’s School, Cambridge)

  • 2008

    Tom Chen (Hillcrest High School)
    Jessica Jackman (Sacred Heart College)
    Luke Craven (Bethlehem College)

  • 2007

    Tom Chen (Hillcrest High School)
    Toby Shephard (Hamilton Boys High)
    Craig McCulloch (Bethlehem College)

  • 2005

    Lena Skandera (Hillcrest High School)
    Akif Malik (Hamilton Boys’ High School)
    Sarah Keast (Hamilton Girls’ High College)
    Coaches: Jordan Ward & James Little

  • 2004

    Elliot O’Brien (Hamilton Boys’ High School)
    Laura Hablous (Hillcrest High School)
    Emily Bird (Rotorua Girls’ High School)

Previous Winners

The Waikato Regional Schools’ Debating Championships have existed since 1989. Since 1999 the winning team has received the Alexandra Gillespie Cup for Waikato Schools Debating, which is inscribed as follows:

 

The Alexandra Gillespie Cup for Waikato Schools’ Debating
Named in honour of Alexandra Gillespie
President, New Zealand Schools’ Debating Council, 1995-7
Winner, New Zealand Schools’ Debating Championships, 1991
Winner, World Schools’ Debating Championships, 1992

Previous Best Speakers

Since 2007 the Best Speakers at the Waikato Schools’ Debating Championships have been awarded the Ward Cup, donated by Jordan and Zach Ward, former Waikato debaters. Jordan is a former Nationals winner (2001) and member of the New Zealand Schools’ Debating team, and Zach is a former coach of the winning Central North Island team (2002):

 

Winners of the Ward Cup for Best Speaker

  • 2024

    Hamilton Boys’ High School

  • 2023

    Hillcrest High School

  • 2022

    Hamilton Boys’ High School

  • 2021

    Hamilton Boys’ High School

  • 2020

    Hamilton Boys’ High School

  • 2019

    Waikato Diocesan School for Girls

  • 2018

    Hamilton Boys’ High School

  • 2017

    Huanui College

  • 2016

    Huanui College

  • 2015

    Huanui College

  • 2014

    John Paul College

  • 2013

    Hillcrest High School

  • 2012

    Hamilton Boys' High School

  • 2011

    Hamilton Boys’ High School

  • 2010

    John Paul College

  • 2009

    Mt Maunganui College

  • 2008

    Hillcrest High School

  • 2007

    Hillcrest High School

  • 2005

    Hamilton Girls’ High School

  • 2004

    Hamilton Boys’ High School

  • 2003

    Tauranga Boys’ College

  • 2002

    Hamilton Girls’ High School

  • 2001

    Hamilton Boys’ High School

  • 2000

    St Paul’s Collegiate School

  • 1999

    St Paul’s Collegiate School

  • 2024

    Nikash Lanka (Hamilton Boys’ High School)

  • 2023

    Jessica Licht (Hillcrest High School)

  • 2022

    Janet Guo (Hillcrest High School)

  • 2021

    Robert Hoskins (Hamilton Boys' High School)

  • 2020

    Travis Palmer (Hamilton Boys’ High School)

  • 2019

    Dominic Beaton (St John’s College)

  • 2018

    Nicholas Goodman (Hamilton Boys’ High School)

  • 2017

    Nicholas Goodman (Hamilton Boys’ High School)

  • 2016

    Amy Spittal (Waikato Diocesan)

  • 2015

    Cheska Saavedra (Hamilton Girls High School)

  • 2014

    Fintan Walsh (John Paul College)

  • 2013

    Olivia Maxwell (Hillcrest High School)

  • 2012

    Thomas Simpson (Hamilton Boys’ High School)

  • 2011

    Thomas Simpson (Hamilton Boys’ High School)

  • 2010

    Tyrone Barugh (St Paul’s College)

  • 2008

    Tom Chen (Hillcrest High School)

  • 2007

    Toby Shephard (Hamilton Boys’ High School)

2023

The 2023 Waikato Regional Debating Tournament was the largest ever, with 26 teams competing.

After several rounds of highly competitive debates, congratulations to Jessica Licht, Katie Li and Daniel Dizon who were selected for the regional team.

An additional thank you for all those adjudicators who travelled for the tournament.

2021

The 2021 Waikato Regional Championships were hosted at Waikato University.

Well done to Hamilton Boys' High School who took out the open final in a very high quality debate against St Peter's Cambridge. A further congratulations to Hamilton Boys' High School 5 for winning the Junior Finals against HBHS 7. We were privileged to have Hamilton East MP Jamie Strange to present the prizes.

Congratulations to the following speakers who were named onto the Waikato Regional Team for 2021:

  • Robert Hoskins (Hamilton Boys' High School) [Best Speaker]
  • Travis Palmer (Hamilton Boys' High School)
  • Andrew Qiu (St Peter's)
  • Reserve: Meghana Gaddam (St Peter's)

Thanks to Harper Smith, Melissa Connolly and Michaela de Vantier for their hard work convening!

2020

Winners - Hamilton Boys’ High School 1
Rohan Singh
Ryan Choy
Harrison Thien

Runners up - Hamilton Boys’ High School 2
Travis Palmer
Robert Hoskin
Logan Palmer

Breaking teams:
Hamilton Boys’ High School 1
Hamilton Boys’ High School 2
St Peter’s Cambridge 2
St Peters Cambridge 1

Waikato team:
Travis Palmer (Hamilton Boys’ High School)
Robert Hoskin (Hamilton Boys’ High School)
Andrew Qiu (St Peters’ Cambridge)

Reserves:
Meghana Gaddam (St Peter’s Cambridge)
Ryan Choy (Hamilton Boys’ High School)

Highly Commended:
Logan Palmer (Hamilton Boys’ High School)
Rohan Singh (Hamilton Boys’ High School)
Amber Spence (Hillcrest High School)

Best Speaker: Travis Palmer (Hamilton Boys’ High School)

Best Style: Ryan Choy (Hamilton Boys’ High School

2016

Winners - Hamilton Boys High School
Jacob Cheatley
Tim Ng
Alex LeComte

Runners-Up - Waikato Diocesan
Emma Harris
Emma Fountaine
Amy Spittal

Promising Speakers:
Jonathan Tomlinson (Mt Maunganui)
Jonah Franke Bowell (Hillcrest High School)

Highly Commended:
Zara Olifent (Hillcrest High School),
Aneesha Dahya (John Paul College),
Emma Fountaine (Waikato Diocesan)

Reserves to the Waikato Regional Schools’ Debating Team:
Timothy Ng (Hamilton Boys High School)
Hugo Thompson (Tauranga Boys High School)

Waikato Regional Schools’ Debating Team:
Amy Spittal (Waikato Diocesan),
Alex Le Comte (Hamilton Boys High School)
Andrew Devitt (Tauranga Boys High School)

Best Speaker: Amy Spittal (Waikato Diocesan)

2015

Waikato Regionals was held at Waikato University on Saturday the 21st of March, and was attended by 18 teams from across Waikato and the Bay of Plenty.

All teams competed in three preliminary rounds, discussing issues such as the merits of online activism, banning gambling, and setting aside places for women in STEM university courses. After this the top four teams – Hamilton Girls High School, Hamilton Boys High School, Tauranga Boys College, and Otumoetai College – competed in the semi-finals, on the motion “that popular fiction should be taught in schools instead of classical literature.”

The final was a closely contested debate between Otumoetai and Hamilton Boys High School on the motion “that poverty should be a defence to property crime.” Hamilton Boys ultimately won the tournament in a 5-2 split decision.

A massive thanks to Waikato University for providing both the venue and food for the tournament, and to teams who had to travel long distances to attend. It was an extremely high quality tournament this year, congratulations to the following prize winners:

Winners (Hamilton Boys High School):
Soumil Singh
Visharn Sathiyakumar
Stephen Burroughs

Runners Up (Otumoetai College):
Sophie Hubbard
Matt Plumpton
Ed Hardie

Best Speaker:  Cheska Saavedra (Hamilton Girls High School)

Members of the Waikato Team:
Soumil Singh (Hamilton Boys High School)
Hugo Thompson (Tauranga Boys College)
Cheska Saavedra (Hamilton Girls High School)

Highly Commended:
Sara Hansen (Hillcrest High School)
Megan Hemming (Cambridge High School)
Greer Broadley (Cambridge High School)

2014

The Waikato Regional Schools’ Debating Competition was held on Sunday 2 March at the University of Waikato. Schools came from as far away as Bethlehem and Thames, with 16 schools and 18 teams competing.

The teams debated in three rounds of limited preparation debates. A range of topics were discussed, including whether Te Reo should be a compulsory subject at school, and whether criminal trials should be televised.

Four teams progressed to the semi-final – Tauranga Boys’ High School, Hillcrest High School, John Paul College, and St John’s College. Waikato Diocesan narrowly missed out on making the semi-final, but had an exceptional performance throughout the competition. The teams debated whether cosmetic surgery should be banned. In a unanimous decision in both semi-final debates, Hillcrest High School and St John’s College progressed to the final.

The Final motion was “This house would re-elect the National government”. A coin toss was conducted to determine sides for the debate, with John Paul College affirming and Hillcrest High School negating.

The final debate was good-spirited, with speakers thoroughly entertaining the audience. The adjudicators were split 5-4 about the winners of the tournament. Ultimately John Paul College managed to sway the majority of the adjudication panel, and became the champions of the competition.

The standard of debating on the day was impressive, and a number of awards were presented to speakers. The 2014 Waikato Team was announced, comprising of Fintan Walsh (John Paul College), Emily Scrimgeour (Hillcrest High School), and Olivia Maxwell (Hillcrest High School). The reserve to the team is Hillary Barker (Waikato Diocesan). The best speaker of the competition was Fintan Walsh.

Some excellent speakers were awarded the Highly Commended prizes. These students were Adam Scott (Tauranga Boys’ College), Elinor Tsen (Waikato Diocesan), and Stephen Burroughs (Hamilton Boys’ High School). The most promising speaker of the competition was Hugo Thompson (Tauranga Boys’ College).

The Waikato competition is fortunate to have such excellent facilities each year. Thank-you to Susan Law and TJ Cloete of Waikato University for kindly providing a venue for the competition, as well as a delicious lunch.

Thank-you also to the adjudicators of the competition: Desley Horton, Mitch Cooper, Hamish Saunders, Glen Holm-Hansen, James Penn, Aditya Vasudevan, Lucy Harrison, Rochelle Monk, Ailidh Lesley, and Callum Lowe.

Good luck to the 2014 Waikato Team, who will be travelling to Wellington to compete in the national tournament on 23-26 May.

2013

The 2013 Waikato Regional Debating Championships was held at the University of Waikato on Sunday 14th April. Schools came to participate from throughout the Waikato region from Hamilton to Thames to Morrinsville.

This year three preliminary rounds were followed by a break to the semis, followed by a final. Teams debated a range of topics, including banning alcohol, allowing prisoners sentenced to life sentences the option of the death penalty and banning private donations to political parties.

At the end of three preliminary rounds, Hillcrest High School and St John’s College advanced to the semi-final on three wins. St Peters and John Paul College 2 advanced on two wins. Waikato Dio, Hamilton Boys’, John Paul College 1, and Otumoetai College were also on two wins, but had fewer speaker points than John Paul College 2 and St Peters.

The semi-final match-up saw Hillcrest against John Paul College 2, and St Johns against St Peters. The motion was “This house supports a quota for women in the police-force”. Hillcrest and St John’s emerged as the winners in a unanimous and a 2-1 split decision respectively, and went on to face each other in the final with the motion “This house believes that important medical decisions about children should be made by doctors and not parents”.

The final was, as always, spirited and tightly-fought but Hillcrest were ultimately declared the winners in a 6-1 split decision.

The conveners extend a special thank-you to Susan Law from the University of the Waikato, who once again provided a wonderful venue for the day as well as a plentiful lunch of pizza.

Also thank you to the adjudicators who drove from Auckland for the competition – Desley Horton, Christopher Bishop, Glen Holm-Hansen, Mitchell Cooper, Lucy Harrison, Brierley Penn, Callum Rose, Aditya Vasudevan, and Kayla Grant. Thank-you also to the Waikato debating continent of judges and trainee adjudicators – Jesse Tizard, Rochelle Monk, and Zanian Steele.

Awards were given to a number of speakers that had distinguished themselves throughout the day.

Highly Commended: Emily Scrimageour (Hillcrest High School); Sophie (St Peter’s)

Most Promising Speaker: Tim (John Paul College)

Reserve to the Waikato Team: Emily Anselmi (St Peter’s)

Waikato Team 2013:
Olivia Maxwell (Hillcrest High School)
Samuel McCabe (Hamilton Boys’ High School)
Matthew (Aquinas College)

Best Speaker: Olivia Maxwell (Hillcrest High School)

2012

The 2012 Waikato Regional Debating Championships were held at the University of Waikato on Sunday 27 May. Schools came to participate from as far away as Bethlehem and Otumoetai College, with 15 schools and 16 teams in the competition.

This year three preliminary rounds were followed by a knockout semi-finals round, followed by a final. Teams debated a range of topics, including performance-based pay for teachers, banning smoking, and the chemical castration of sex offenders.

At the end of three preliminary rounds, Hamilton Boys’ High School and Hillcrest High School advanced to the semi-final on three wins. John Paul College and St Peters advanced on two wins. St John’s, Aquinas, St Pauls, and Otumoetai College were also on two wins, but had fewer speaker points than John Paul College and St Peters.

The semi-final matchup saw Hillcrest against John Paul College, and Hamilton Boys’ against St Peters. The motion was “This house would farm endangered species”. John Paul College and Hamilton Boys’ emerged as the winners, and went on to face each other in the final with the motion “This house believes that beauty pageants do more harm than good”.

The final saw a great deal of wit, detailed analysis, and passionate delivery. Ultimately, in a unanimous decision, the five-person panel awarded the debate to the defending champions, Hamilton Boys’ High School, who won the Alexandra Gillespie Cup.

Awards were given to a number of speakers that had distinguished themselves throughout the day.

Highly commended awards were presented to Scott Cameron (Hamilton Boys’), Ben Hamilton (Hillcrest), and Emily Anselmi (St Peters).

This year’s Waikato team was also announced, consisting of Thomas Simpson (Hamilton Boys’), Christopher Jury (Hamilton Boys’), and Kayla Grant (Hillcrest). This is the same team that won the 2011 NZSDC National Championship, and will be returning to defend the title.

Rebecca McMenanin (John Paul College) and Claire Threadgill (John Paul College) were named as reserves to the team. For a second consecutive year, the best speaker award was presented to Thomas Simpson (Hamilton Boys’), who won the Ward Cup.

An enormous thank-you must be given to Susan Law, Alonzo Mason, and Sam Fellows of the University of Waikato. Yet again they provided us with lecture theatres for debating rounds, and a scrumptious spread for lunch.

Also thank you to the adjudicators who drove from Auckland for the competition – Hamish Saunders, Holly Jenkins, Adeel Malik, Aditya Vasudevan, Lucy Harrison, Brierley Penn, Callum Rose, Miriam Bookman, and Caitlin Hollings.

2010

The Waikato Regional Schools’ Debating Competition was held on Saturday 22nd May at Waikato University. Once again the University sponsored the event, providing rooms for debating as well as delicious food throughout the day for the competitors.

There were 14 teams competing for The Alexandra Gillespie Cup. The schools came from Mt Maunganui, Rotorua, Tauranga and Hamilton. Two ‘swing’ teams also competed, and these comprised of students from a variety of schools that did not have full teams, but were courageous enough to debate with people they had never met before.

Topics debated throughout the day included:

  • “That we would ban smoking” (prepared, both sides debated)
  • “That we would refuse to negotiate with terrorists” (impromptu)
  • “That we should impose harsher penalties on celebrities than on ordinary students” (impromptu)

The final was between Hamilton Boys’ High School (undefeated in the 4 preliminary rounds) and John Paul College from Rotorua. They debated the challenging topic “That we prefer free trade to development aid”. The economic understanding of this issue and the short and long term consequences for the countries involved was dealt with well by the two teams. However, at the end of the debate the three judges were unanimous in awarding the debate to John Paul College from Rotorua, as they were able to demonstrate the most relevant knowledge and explanation of the economic realities of those parties that this debate encompassed.

The day was very enjoyable, with a good crowd staying to watch the final. Congratulations to all students that competed. Many thanks to the teachers who spent a large portion of their weekend coaching, and driving their teams from far away.

2009

The 2009 Waikato Regional Debating Championships were held at the University of Waikato on Sunday 5 April. There were a record number of teams participating in the competition this year, with schools from as far as Whakatane and Mount Maunganui coming.

There were four preliminary rounds followed by the finals. Teams debated a range of topics including banning gambling, organ donations and employing assassinations as a foreign policy tool.

At the end of four preliminary rounds, five teams were in contention to make the final. St Paul’s Collegiate were unbeaten and as the top team in the competition they progressed to the final. There was intense competition for the second spot in the final as four teams were tied on three wins – Mount Maunganui College, St John’s College, Whakatane High School and St Peter’s School.

Mount Maunganui progressed to the final as they accumulated 12 “win points” which was higher than any other team in the competition. Going into the final St Paul’s Collegiate appeared to be the favourites as they had an unbeaten record in the tournament. The Grand Final was on the motion “This House would introduce work for welfare”. After the traditional coin toss Mount Maunganui found themselves affirming the motion and St Paul’s Collegiate were negating.

The final proved to be a highlight with both teams producing great analysis, humour and wit. Ultimately, in a close but clear decision the adjudication panel gave the debate and victory in the tournament to first time competitors Mount Maunganui in a 5-0 decision.

For the third year running we were able to select a Waikato Training team made up of younger students. This year the team consists of Brendan Madley (St John’s), Brody Leathem (Mount Maunganui), Aimee Page (Morrinsville College) and Daniel Schidt (St John’s).

We also announced the Waikato team for this year which will be travelling down to Wellington in August to defend its Schools Nationals Crown. The team for 2009 is Luke Craven (Bethlehem College), John Scott-Jones (St Paul’s) and Thomas Libeau (St Peter’s) with Wei Wei Ng (St Paul’s) as a reserve.

I would like to thank Susan Law and the University of Waikato Law School for providing both the venue and a sumptuous lunch. Also a special thank you to the adjudicators, most of whom travelled from out of town for the day: Max Harris, Alex Nelder, Desley Horton, Stephanie Thompson, Ben Milsom, Rachel McMaster, Mark Tushingham, Ralph Hall, Craig Riddell and Tim Condor.

2008

The Waikato Regional Schools’ Debating Championships were held on the 9th March and for the first time the venue was the University of Waikato.

The 16 teams debated in four rounds of limited preparation debates, with time becoming even more limited as the day went on.  The topics tackled included ‘’This House would prioritise national security over civil rights’ and ‘This House would leave Iraq by 2009.’

The two finalist schools were Sacred Heart Girls’ College and defending champions Hillcrest High School.  The final round was the Bioethics round with the moot ‘This House would allow deaf parents to genetically screen embryos to ensure their children were deaf.’  After a closely fought round and a panel split 5 to 2 , Hillcrest High School were the winners for the second year running.

The standard of debating on the day was impressive, especially considering the number of new schools in the competition.  Highly Commended Speakers were Tegan Wilson of Whakatane High School and Rory Price of John Paul College.

For the second year running we were able to select a Waikato Training team made up of younger students, this year the team consists of Ryan Wood (Otumoetai Collge), Manasi Parulekar (Hillcrest High), Nathalie (Waikato Diocesan) and Wei-Wei Ng (St Pauls’ Collegiate).

The Waikato team for this year is Tom Chen (Hillcrest High) who returns for a second year, Jessica Jackman (Sacred Heart) and Luke Craven (Bethlehem College) with Tim Conder (Tauranga Boys) as a reserve.

The Ward Cup for Best Speaker is a prize which was introduced last year thanks to donations from Zach and Jordan Ward and this year was won by Tom Chen (Hillcrest High).

The new venue proved to be a huge success and a big thank you is due to Susan Law and the University of Waikato for providing both the venue and lunch; we hope this will be the start of a continuing relationship.  Also a special thank you to the adjudicators, most of whom travelled from out of town for the day: Jordan Ward, Chris Pearce, Akif Malik, Max Harris, Paul Paterson, Claire Ryan, Dileepa Fonseka, Glenn Riddell, Ben Milsom, George Minton, Mark Tushingham and Anisa Barrowclough, many of the schools commented on the fantastic feedback which the judges provided.

2007

The Waikato Secondary Schools Debating competition took place on the 6th May this year at Hamilton Girls High. The 12 competing teams made their way through 4 preliminary rounds of limited preparation debating, tackling topics such as, ‘That prior convictions should be allowed as evidence in criminal cases’ and ‘That tougher sanctions should be imposed on Fiji until democratic government is restored’.

The two finalists that emerged were Hillcrest High School and Bethlehem College, with Hillcrest affirming ‘That we should allow genetic screening of human embryos for disabilities.’ It was a closely fought final with both teams debating well in front of a large audience. The eventual winners of the competition and the Alexandra Gillespie Cup for Waikato Debating were Hillcrest High School.

Debating on the day was of a good standard and Highly Commended speakers were Andrew Munn (Hamilton Boys High) and Brennan McDonald (Aquinas College). The Most Improved Speaker was Sam Baxter (Tauhara College).

The Waikato team for 2007 is Tom Chen (Hillcrest High School), Toby Shephard (Hamilton Boys High) and Craig McCulloch (Bethlehem College) with Mark Shaw (Hillcrest High School) as reserve.

In addition to the Waikato team, for the first time, a training squad composed of 5th and 6th form debaters was also selected and is composed of Jessica Jackman (Sacred Heart Girls College), Wei Wei Ng (Hillcrest High), James Sweetlove (Hamilton Boys High) and Adel Malik (Hamilton Boys High).

The Most Promising Speaker award went to Jessica Jackman and the inaugural winner of the Ward Cup for Best Speaker was Toby Shephard. Thank you to the Ward brothers Zach and Jordan for donating the cup on behalf of the Ward Debating Dynasty.

A huge thank you to the adjudicators: Claire Ryan, Pascal Millaire Jordan Ward, Jody Leary, Desley Horton, Akif Malik, Max Harris, Rachel McMaster, Dileepa Fonseka, Laura Hablous and NZSDC president Jeremy Johnson. It was great to have so many former Waikato debaters return to adjudicate. Also a special thank you goes to Jo Maplesden from Hamilton Girls High School for her continuing support of the Waikato Regional competition and to Hamilton Girls High School for allowing us to use their facilities again.

2005

The 2005 Waikato Regional Schools’ Debating Championships were held at Hamilton Girls High School on the 22nd of May. There were sixteen teams competing on the day: Hamilton Girls High, Hamilton Boys High, Waikato Diocesan, Te Awamutu College, Aquinas College, Bethlehem College, Otumoetai College, St. Pauls Collegiate, Fraser High School, Rotorua Girls High, St. Johns College, John Paul College, Tauranga Boys College, Hillcrest High, Katikati College, and the Mighty Mighty Swing Team.

Teams debated whether to make voting in New Zealand general elections compulsory, whether organ donations should be denied to those who have led unhealthy lifestyles, whether George Bush has been effective at fighting terror, and whether to raise the drinking age.

The standard of debating was very high and the debates were often amusing. In one debate, a student announced to his opposition: “If you don’t like democracy, there are three weekly flights to China operating.”

The topic for the final was “That we should support nuclear energy”. Affirming were Hillcrest High School (Lena Skandera, Beth Murphy, and Phillipa Norman) and negating were Hamilton Girls High School (Sarah Keast, Georgia Cox-Wright and Liana McPherson). It was everything that a good final should be, entertaining, persuasive and with great clash between the teams. But alas there can be only one winner, and it was Hamilton Girls High School that emerged victorious after a unanimous decision from the panel of judges.

There were a number of Highly Commended Speakers: Mailing Young (Fraser High School), Richard Higgins (Otumoetai College), Atsushi Ikebe (Hamilton Boys High). Zaal Meher-Homji (St. Pauls Collegiate) picked up the Most Promising Speaker Award, and Aquinas College took home an award for being the Most Improved Team at the competition.

The 2005 Waikato Regional Team is: Lena Skandera (Hillcrest High School), Akif Malik (Hamilton Boys High) and Sarah Keast (Hamilton Girls High), with Anna Smith (Waikato Diocesan) named as 1st Reserve.

A huge thank you to the wonderful people who helped me organize the event or adjudicated on the day: Michelle Coursey, Jo Maplesden, Claire Ryan, Emma Hannay, Zach Ward, Jordan Ward, Sarah Barnett, Amy Vinkenvleugel, Paul Paterson, and Dileepa Fonseka.

2004

The 2004 Waikato Regional Schools’ Debating Championship took place on the 9th May, at Hamilton Girls High School.

There was a mix of experienced and novice debaters, who debated moots that ranged from justifying Don Brash’s race relations policies, to whether we should fear Islam or legalise euthanasia.

The final was ‘That we should join Australia’. In favour were Rotorua Girls High School and negating were Hamilton Boys High School. The affirmative put up some good arguments in favour of joining our bigger neighbours, however in the end the judges were persuaded by the negating team into feeling patriotic and the debate was awarded to Hamilton Boys’ High.

The Waikato Team selected was composed of Elliot O’Brien (HBHS), Laura Hablous (Hillcrest High), and Emily Bird (RGHS) with Akif Malik (HBHS) as the reserve.

All in all it was a successful tournament with very few glitches, one of the funnier glitches being when one of our adjudicators Nick Flanagan was late, not being familiar with Hamilton; he ended up at the Hospital on the other side of town instead of at the school.