The New Zealand Schools' Debating Championships kicked-off for 2024 on 24 and 25 February 2024 with the Henderson Reeves Northland, Counties Manukau and Kahurangi-Marlborough Regional Schools' Debating Championships!
Congratulations to Huanui College, Papatoetoe High School and Waimea College for winning their respective championships! 🏆
Henderson Reeves Northland Regional Schools' Debating Championships
The Henderson Reeves Northland Regional Debating Tournament was held on the 25th of February with 16 teams in attendance. It was a very high quality tournament and we’d like to extend a warm thanks to every school for attending. An additional thank you to all of the adjudicators who judged the tournament, and to Joe Howells and Nicolas Powell for their efforts as convenors.
After three exciting rounds of preliminary debates, the two teams progressing to the finals were Huanui College and Whangārei Girls High School. Following a spirited final debate, Huanui College were announced as the winners of the Henderson Reeves Northland Regional Debating Tournament. Congratulations to Rachel Jackson, Nicholas Merry and Josh Callan.
The New Zealand Schools' Debating Council is grateful for Henderson Reeves' support of schools' debating in Northland.
Counties Manukau Regional Schools' Debating Championships
The Counties Manukau Regional Schools' Debating Championships was held on the 24th of February with 11 teams in attendance. It was a very high quality tournament and we’d like to extend a warm thanks to every school for attending, and a special thank you to Hon. Jenny Salesa for coming to watch the finals and for giving a very heartwarming speech. An additional thank you to all of the adjudicators who judged the tournament.
After three exciting rounds of preliminary debates, the two teams progressing to the finals were Papatoetoe High School on the affirmative and De La Salle College on the negative.
Following a spirited final debate, Papatoetoe High School were announced as the winners of the Counties Manukau Regional Schools' Debating Championships. Congratulations to Jenny Vu, Han Nguyen and Joel E. Challis.
Kahurangi-Marlborough Regional Schools' Debating Championships
The Kahurangi-Marlborough Regional Schools' Debating Championships was held at Nayland College on the 24th of February with 22 teams in attendance. It was a very high quality tournament and we’d like to extend a warm thanks to every school for attending. An additional thank you to all of the adjudicators who judged the tournament, Lucy Jessep for her efforts as convenor, and to Rachel Boyack MP for her inspiring words to the competitors.
After four exciting rounds of preliminary debates, the tournament progressed to a Junior and Senior Final.
The Junior final was between Garin Bronze and Garin Indigo, and after a spirited debate the winning team was Garin Bronze. Congratulations to Jack Hall, Addison Burke, Mattaeus Kwan.
The Senior final was between Nayland Red and Waimea Gold Senior, a rematch from Round 4. After a hotly contested Senior final, Waimea Gold Senior were announced as the winners of the Kahurangi-Marlborough Regional Schools' Debating Championships. Congratulations to Riley Nicholls, Tom Meldrum, and Rory Stock.
Congratulations also to Riley Nicholls (Waimea College), Stella Bloomfield (Nayland College), Finn Kerby-Pinguet (Nayland College) who were selected for the Kahurangi-Marlborough Team that will compete in the National Finals of the New Zealand Schools' Debating Championships in Wellington.
Pictured below (left to right): Rachel Boyack speaking at the start of the day; the Junior Final participants; the Senior Final participants; and the 2024 Kahurangi-Marlborough Team.
