The 2004 Russell McVeagh 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.