NZ Schools Debating Champs at Vic this weekend

New Zealand Schools Debating Championships at Vic this weekend

12 regional teams of student debaters are competing in Wellington this weekend at the National Finals of the New Zealand Schools Debating Championships, hosted and sponsored by Victoria University.

Teams from Wellington, Auckland, Canterbury, Otago-Southland, Hawke’s Bay, Northland, Central North Island, Waikato and Nelson-Marlborough will take part in five rounds of debates over the weekend at the University’s Law School on both prepared and impromptu topics. Auckland are the defending champions.

In the first two rounds, teams will be debating whether the New Zealand Police should have locally-elected District Commanders. The prepared topic reflects the partnership that the New Zealand Schools Debating Council has made this year with the Police to help create public debate over the Police Act Review.

The Grand Final between the top two teams at the Championships will take place in the Legislative Council Chamber at Parliament on Monday 13 August at 10am, hosted by Hon Peter Dunne, a long-time supporter of schools debating.

In their 12th year, the Championships are the premier debating competition for schools in New Zealand.

The best four speakers will become members of the Russell McVeagh New Zealand Schools Debating Team, to represent against international competition in early 2008.

Members of the public and media are invited to watch the debating action at the Victoria University Law School and Rutherford House this weekend.

ENDS

© Scoop Media