The Northland Schools' Regional Debating Championships, and the Northland Regional team, are proudly sponsored by Henderson Reeves. Henderson Reeves is a Whangārei and Auckland based law firm with a history dating back four decades and with lawyers experienced across a wide range of legal specialities.
The New Zealand Schools' Debating Council is grateful for Henderson Reeves' support for debating in Northland.
The Henderson Reeves Northland Regional Schools' Debating Championships 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.
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.
Thanks to Joe Howells and Nicolas Powell for their efforts as convenors.
Runners-Up: Whangārei Girls’ High School
Theo Nogher
Maria Hall
Georgette Williams
Best Speaker: Theo Nogher (Whangārei Girls’ High School)
Most Promising Speaker: Anwen Davies (Tauraroa Area School)
Highly Commended Speakers: Ciara Andrews (Kerikeri High School) and Lilli-rose Voakes (Kerikeri High School)
Henderson Reeves Northland Schools' Regional Team 2024
Theo Nogher (Whangarei Girls High School)
Rachael Jackson (Huanui College)
Jenae Loots (Tauraroa Area School)
Reserves: Nicholas Merry (Huanui College) and Ella Wade (Kerikeri High School)
Previous Regional Teams
Northland has competed in the New Zealand Schools’ Debating Championships since 2003. The regional teams since that time are listed here.
2024
Theo Nogher (Whangarei Girls High School)
Rachael Jackson (Huanui College)
Jenae Loots (Tauraroa Area School)
Coaches: Robert Donohoe and Lily Chalmers2023
Giverny Midema (Huanui College)
Joe Howells (Kerikeri High School)
Zoe Ackers (Kerikeri High School)
Coaches: Umbar Sandhu and Liam Silverwood2022
Giverny Midema (Huanui College)
Joe Howells (Kerikeri High School)
Nicholas Powell (Kerikeri High School)
Coaches: Liam Silverwood and Umbar Sandhu2021
Ronan Payinda (Huanui College)
Joe Howells (Kerikeri High School)
Nicholas Powell (Kerikeri High School)
Coach: Liam Silverwood
2020
Faith Hohepa (Kerikeri High School)
Ronan Payinda (Huanui College)
Charlie Potter (Kerikeri High School)
Coaches: Liam Silverwood and Sharuka Wikramanayake2019
Katey Whitehead (Kerikeri High School)
Acima Mabidikama (Kerikeri High School)
Ronan Payinda (Huanui College)
Coaches: Liam Rawlings and Sharuka Wikramanayake2018
Sophie Fox (Kerikeri High School)
Katey Whitehead (Kerikeri High School)
Ella Hague (Bream Bay College)
Coaches: Liam Rawlings and Sharuka Wikramanayake2017
Ella Rankin (Huanui College)
Grace Jennings (Kerikeri High School)
Laila Abada (Kerikeri High School)
Coaches: Liam Rawlings and Mitchell Smitheram
2016
Meg Murray (Kerikeri High School)
Leila Abada (Kerikeri High School)
Ella Short (Huanui High School)
Coaches: Glen Holm-Hansen & Lucy Ellingham2015
Meg Murray (Kerikeri High School)
Aimee Leaming (Kerikeri High School)
Sean Richards (Kerikeri High School)
Coaches: Michael Prendergast & Callum Lo2014
Jesse Prendergast (Kerikeri High School)
Lucy Ellingham (Kerikeri High School)
Samantha Scahill(Kerikeri High School)
Coaches: Aria Newfield & Corinne Marti2013
Jesse Prendergast (Kerikeri High School)
Lucy Ellingham (Kerikeri High School)
Samantha Scahill(Kerikeri High School)
Coaches: Aria Newfield & Corinne Marti
2012
Jesse Prendergast (Kerikeri High School)
Samantha Scahill (Kerikeri High School)
Jonathon Luiten (Whangarei Boys High School)
Coaches: Aria Newfield & Corinne Marti2011
Michael Prendergast (Kerikeri High School)
Freya Forstner (Kerikeri High School)
Jacob Brown (Rodney High School)
Coach: Aria Newfield2010
Michael Prendergast (Kerikeri High School)
Micheal McCabe (Whangarei Boys’ High School)
Kate Wilson (Whangarei Girls’ High School)
Coach: Nupur Upadhyay
2009
Corrine Marti (Kerikeri High School)
Emma Smith (Whangarei Girls’ High School)
Thomas Scott-Smith (Otamatea College)
Coach: George Minton & Dan White2008
Corrine Marti (Kerikeri High School)
Emma Smith (Whangarei Girls’ High School)
Kate Prosser (Kerikeri High School)
Coaches: Mitchell Cooper & Kate Mills2007
David Adams (Pompallier Catholic College)
Corinne Marti (Kerikeri High School)
Olivia Marti (Kerikeri High School)
Coach: Jordan Ward2006
David Middlemiss (Kerikeri High School)
Toby Yuretich (Kaitaia College)
Ashley Ball (Whangarei Girls’ High School)
Coach: Jordan Ward2005
David Middlemiss (Kerikeri High School)
Katie Luke (Kerikeri High School)
Natie Kearins (Pompallier Catholic College)
Coaches: Jordan Ward & James Little2004
Kate Eastwood (Kerikeri High School)
Asher Fagan (Kerikeri High School)
Jenna Riley (Kerikeri High School)
Coach: Claire Ryan2003
Amanda Brydon (Kaitaia College)
Kate Eastwood (Kerikeri High School)
Nick Wilkinson (Whangarei Boys’ High School)
Coach: Claire Ryan
2023
The Northland Schools' Regional Debating Championships was held on the 12th of March at Huanui College. We had a record 14 teams travelling in from around the region. It was a tournament of very high calibre.
After three exciting rounds of preliminary debates, the two teams progressing to the finals were Kerikeri High School 1 and Kerikeri High School 2. Following a spirited final debate, Kerikeri High School 1 were announced the winners of the Northland regional competition.
An additional thank you for all those adjudicators who travelled for the tournament.
Winners: Kerikeri High School 1
Grace Calnan
Cameron Willis
Joe Howells
Runners-Up: Kerikeri High School 2
Alice Calnan
Zoe Ackers
Rachelle Nichols
Best Speakers (tied equal): Giverny Miedema (Huanui College) and Joe Howells (Kerikeri High School)
Promising Speakers: Lilli Voakes (Kerikeri High School) and Rachael Jackson (Huanui College)
Highly Commended: Alice Calnan and Grace Calnan (Kerikeri High School)
Henderson Reeves Northland Team
Joe Howells (Kerikeri High School)
Giverny Miedema (Huanui College)
Zoe Ackers (Kerikeri High School)
Lucy Murray – Reserve (Huanui College)
Rachael Jackson - Reserve (Huanui College)
2021
On the 21st of March, we hosted the Northland Regional Championships at Huanui College.
Well done to Huanui College 1 who took out the open final in a very high quality debate against Kerikeri High School 4.
Congratulations to the following speakers who were named onto the Northland Regional Team for 2021:
- Ronan Payinda (Huanui) (Best Speaker)
- Joe Howells (Kerikeri High School)
- Nicholas Powell (Kerikeri High School)
- Reserves: Stella Blackwood and Lydia Bailie-Bellew (Kerikeri High School).
Thanks to Liam Silverwood and Katey Whitehead for their hard work as convenors.
2017
The Northland Regional Debating Championships was held on the 19th of March at Huanui College in Whangarei. A competitive turn-out of 10 teams were present to debate in three preliminary rounds on topics such as lowering the voting age, and paying parents to stay at home and raise children. All judges in attendance felt that this year’s tournament was of a very high standard.
Huanui College and Kerikeri High School were the two top breaking teams who progressed to the final, producing a thoughtful and engaging debate on the motion that “this house believes that the police force should have quotas for racial minorities.” Congratulations to Huanui College for winning the debate and the competition overall.
We are very grateful to Hon Kelvin Davis, MP for Te Tai Tokerau, who assisted in the presentation of prizes and awards and offered some of his own debating advice to the students at the Grand Final.
A big thank you to all the judges, teachers and parents who gave up their day for the tournament, and to Huanui College who generously provided a venue.
Congratulations to the following students who received awards:
Winners – Huanui College:
Ella Rankin
Thomas Roberts
Toby Lengyel
Runners Up – Kerikeri High School:
Sophie Piesse
Lauryn Jarman
Laila Abada
Highly Commended Speakers:
Thomas Roberts (Huanui College)
Ella Short (Whangarei Girls High School)
Reserve to the Northland Regional Team:
Katey Whitehead (Kerikeri High School)
Members of the Northland Regional Team:
Ella Rankin (Huanui College)
Grace Jennings (Kerikeri High School)
Laila Abada (Kerikeri High School)
Best Style:
Ella Rankin (Huanui College)
Most Promising Speaker:
Katey Whitehead (Kerikeri High School)
Best Speaker:
Ella Rankin (Huanui College)
2016
The Northland Regional Debating Championships was held on the 28 February at Kerikeri High School. 9 teams travelled from around Northland to attend.
This year’s tournament was very high quality, with three preliminary rounds on topics such as imposing a sugar tax, and the media’s focus on the private lives of politicians. Following these three debates, Huanui 1 and Kerikeri High School 1 progressed to the Grand Final.
The Grand Final topic was “that major film and television awards should have racial quotas for nominating non-white actors.” Congratulations to Kerikeri 1 for successfully affirming the motion and taking out the competition.
A big thank you to Glen Holm-Hansen, Daniel Wilson, Callum Rose and Lucy Ellingham who made the long trek to Kerikeri to judge. A big thank you also to the teachers who gave up their day for the tournament, and to Kerikeri High School who generously provided the venue.
Winners: Kerikeri High School
Runners-Up: Huanui College
Best Speaker: Aimee Leaming (Kerikeri High School)
Northland Regional Schools’ Debating Team:
Aimee Leaming (Kerikeri High School)
Ella Short (Huanui College)
Laila Abada (Kerikeri College)
Reserve to the Northland Regional Schools’ Debating Team:
Ella Rankin (Huanui College)
2015
The 2015 Northland Regional Debating Championships were held on Sunday the 1st March
The competition was hard fought in three rounds of spirited debating by all teams. There was some excellent and engaging debating, especially seeing fresh new perspectives to the topics at hand.
The final was won by Kerikeri High School. In a unanimous decision Kerikeri High School was able to persuade the judges that the motion before the house should fall.
Northland Schools’ Regional Debating Team:
Meg Murray (Kerikeri High School)
Aimee Leaming (Kerikeri High School)
Sean Richards (Kerikeri High School)
Winners: Kerikeri High School
Reserve to Northland Schools’ Regional Debating Team: Laila Abada (Kerikeri High School)
Best Speaker: Meg Murray (Kerikeri High School)
2014
The 2014 Northland Regional Debating Championships were held on Sunday the 23rd February. The tournament was attended by Kerikeri High School and Whangarei Girls High School. There was also a swing team, comprised of speakers from schools who couldn’t send a full 3 speakers.
The competition was hard fought in three rounds of spirited debating by all teams. There was some excellent and engaging debating, especially seeing fresh new perspectives to the topics at hand.
The final was held between Kerikeri High School 1 and Kerikeri High School 2. The motion debated was ‘This house would allow prisoners to raise their children behind bars’. In a unanimous decision Kerikeri High School 1 was able to persuade the judges that the motion before the house should fall.
Winners: Kerikeri High School 1
Runner Up: Kerikeri High School 2
Northland Schools’ Regional Debating Team:
Lucy Ellingham (Kerikeri High School 1)
Meg Murray (Kerikeri High School 1)
Aimee Leaming (Kerikeri High School 3)
Reserves to the Northland Schools’ Regional Debating Team:
Jason Leaming (Kerikeri High School 1)
Rachel Machado (Whangarei Girls’ High School)
Best Speaker:
Lucy Ellingham (Kerikeri High School 1)
2013
The Northland Regional Debating Championships were held on Sunday the 17th of March at Whangarei Girls High School. Seven teams from five different schools competed in three limited preparation rounds of debating followed by a final.
All of the students coped well with the variety of topics which were set including streaming in secondary schools an quotas for women in the police force. It was excellent to see a lot of younger speakers participating in the tournament, many of whom showed a lot of promise.
Kerikeri High Schools 1 broke in first place to the final. However, the break for second position was extremely close with Kerikeri High School 2, Kerikeri High School 3 and Whangarei Boys High School all having the same amount of win points and very similar speaker points. Kerikeri High School 2 narrowly edged out Kerikeri High School 3 on speaker points, making it a Kerikeri High School 1 versus Kerikeri High School 2 final for the second year in a row.
The topic for the Grand Final was ‘”This House believes that important medical decisions about children’s heath should be made by doctors and not by their parents.” Both teams created extremely interesting and compelling arguments which meant that the audience and adjudicators thoroughly enjoyed the thought provoking debate. Kerikeri High School 1 were announced as the winners in a unanimous decision.
Thank you very much to Margaret Northey for hosting us at Whangarei Girls High School and to Mitchell Cooper, Aria Newfield and Sam Bookman for adjudicating.
Congratulations to all of the students who received awards:
Winners: Kerikeri High School 1
Jesse Prendergast
Lucy Ellingham
Samantha Scahill
Runners Up: Kerikeri High School 2
Jason Leaming
Meg Murray
Cassy Osokin
Members of the Northland Team
Jesse Prendergast- Kerikeri High School
Lucy Ellingham- Kerikeri High School
Samantha Scahill- Kerikeri High School
Reserve to the Northland Team
Rachael Machado- Whangarei Girls High School
Highly Commended
Cassy Osokin- Kerikeri High School
Brad Olsen- Whangarei Boys High School
Promising Speakers
Eva Pearson- Whangarei Girls High School
Meg Murray- Kerikeri High School
Best Speaker
Jesse Prendergast – Kerikeri High School
2012
On the 29th of April the 2011 Northland Regional Debating Championships were held at Kerikeri High School. Three teams from Kerikeri and two teams from Whangarei took part. Teams debate in three limited preparation rounds throughout the day followed by a final in the evening.
Students debated a variety of topics throughout the day, including internet activism, overseas land sales and the merits of beauty pageants. The break was extremely close, coming down to only a few speaker points. Ultimately, Kerikeri 1 and Kerikeri 2 made it through to the final.
The Grand Final was held in front of a large audience on the topic “This House believes that individuals should choose to be vegetarian on ethical grounds”. It was the highest quality final that has been seen in Northland for a number of years and the adjudicators really enjoyed the entertaining and knowledgeable speeches from all participants. Kerikeri High School 2 were announced the winners in a 2-1 split decision. This is the fourth year in a row that Kerikeri High School has won the final!
Thank you very much to Di Eastwood who hosted us at Kerikeri High School. Many thanks also to the adjudicators, Aria Newfield, Callum Rose, Desley Horton and Lucy Harrison.
Congratulations to all of the students who received awards:
Most Promising Speaker: Lucy Ellingham – Kerikeri High School
Highly Commended:
Freya Forstner – Kerikeri High School
Kate Wilson – Whangarei Girls’ High School
Reserve to the Northland Team: Max Irving-Lamb – Kerikeri High School
Northland Team:
Jesse Prendergast – Kerikeri High School
Samantha Scahill – Kerikeri High School
Jonathon Luiten – Whangarei Boys High School
2011
This year eight teams from six schools met at Whangarei Boys’ High School on Sunday 27 February to compete at the 2011 Northland Regional Debating Championships. The teams began the day with a prepared topic round, debating the motion ‘This House would make voting compulsory’. This was followed by two limited preparation rounds, where teams debated the issue of voluntary euthanasia and free broadcasting of major sports events.
While the break was close ,with Rodney College and Kerikeri High School 2 narrowly missing out, it was Kerikeri High School 1 and Whangarei Boys’ High School 1 who went through to the final. The teams debated the motion “This House would refuse to negotiate with terrorists”, with Kerikeri High School 1 taking out the tournament again.
The tournament also involves the selection of individual speakers for the regional team, who will go on to compete at the New Zealand Schools’ Debating Championships in late May. The team consists of Michael Prendergast (Kerikeri High School), Freya Forstner (Kerikeri High School) and Jacob Brown (Rodney High School), and will be coached by Aria Newfield. Michael Prendergast was named as the Best Speaker of the tournament.
A development team, comprised of speakers from Year 12 and below who show great promise, was also selected. In the team are Lutz Hamm (Whangarei Boys’ High School), Joey Faithful (Kamo High School), Bryce Robertson (Rodney College) and Jesse Prendergast (Kerikeri High School). Jesse Prendergast was also named as the Most Promising Speaker.
The regional convenors thank all of the students who participated in the tournament, as well as the coaches and parents who made such participation possible. They also extend thanks to Whangarei Boys’ High School for making such an enjoyable competition possible.
2010
On Sunday the 25th of April 2010 six teams from four schools gathered at Kerikeri High School to contest the 2010 Northland Regional Debating Championships. The day consisted of three preliminary rounds of debating, followed by a final in the evening. Teams competed in both prepared and limited preparation rounds, as well as, for the first time, an ‘advised topic area’. All teams debated commendably, and the break to the final was close. Ultimately, though, Kerikeri High School 1 and Whangarei Boys’ High School 2 made it through. Negating the motion ‘This House Would Make Voting Compulsory’, Kerikeri were able to maintain their title for another year.
The tournament was also the vehicle for selecting a team to represent Northland at the National Schools’ Debating Championships in Wellington later in the year. These students will receieve rigorous coaching from up-and-coming coaching duo Nupur Upadhyay and James Ruddell, both law students at the University of Auckland.
The team this year is made up of Michael Prendergast (Kerikeri High School), Michael McCabe (Whangarei Boys’ High School) and Kate Wilson (Whangarei Girls’ High School). The team will be assisted in their training by the Northland Development Squad. These students were selected for their potential to contribute to the region in the future and are ones to watch for the team next year. They are Max Irvine (Kerikeri High School), Amber Pemberton (Whangarei Girls’ High School), Tiantian Zheng (Whangarei Girls’ High School) and Lutz Hamm (Whangarei Boys’ High School).
The organisers would like to congratulate the team members, as well as all the students who competed in the tournament and their coaches. They would also like to thank Kerikeri High School for hosting another enjoyable Northland Regionals.
2009
On a wet and windy Sunday 10 May six teams from around the Northland region gathered at Kerikeri High School to compete in the 2009 Northland Regional Schools Debating Championship. The teams debated three limited preparation rounds throughout the day, followed by a final in the evening.
Moots debated through the day included “This House would prevent Fiji from contributing troops to UN peacekeeping missions”, “This House would legalise all drugs” and “This House would introduce an opt-out system of organ donation”.
After the preliminary rounds two teams narrowly broke to the final: Whangarei Boys’ High School and Kerikeri High School. They debated the motion “This House would allow minority groups to form breakaway states” in a heated final showdown.
Ultimately though, the adjudication panel, chaired by NZSDC President Christopher Bishop, was unanimous in awarding the debate to Kerikeri High School, who were negating
2007
2007 saw Kerikeri defend its impressive five year winning-streak in the Northland Schools’ Debating Championships held at Pompallier College. It was very encouraging, though, to see a stronger showing from Whangarei schools, with Pompallier narrowly loosing the final, and with strong individual and team performances from Whangarei Girls, Whangarei Boys and Bream Bay.
Eight teams competed in the two day event. The new two day format allowed for an extended competition, with four preliminary rounds on the Saturday, and semis and finals on the Sunday morning. Most of the speakers had benefited from the Northland Schools Debating Competition which was held in the months leading up to the Championships. This will hopefully continue in future years, ensuring that Northland students have the opportunity to practice and improve their debating skills throughout the year.
Particular thanks must go to Claire Ryan, Jeremy Johnson and the many adjudicators from the Auckland University Debating Society which made countless trips to Whangarei and Kerikeri to adjudicate schools debates in 2007. Many thanks also to NZSDC for financially supporting this regional development initiative. Finally, a big thank you to Jackie Williams and Pompallier College who not only hosted the Championships, but also provided accommodation for the adjudicators in the renowned Pompallier Lodge.
The Northland team for 2007 is:
David Adams (Pompallier College)
Olivia Marti (Kerikeri High)
Corinne Marti (Kerikeri High)