Wellington defeats Auckland at Debating Champs

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Wellington defeats Auckland at the National Schools Debating Championships

Wellington has emerged as the victors of the 2007 Russell McVeagh New Zealand Schools Debating Championships. For the fourth time in as many years the final was an Auckland versus Wellington affair, however, unlike in the last two years this time Wellington were adjudged the winners in the Grand Final held yesterday in the Legislative Council Chamber at Parliament.

The Wellington Black team consisting of Jaz Nye Morris, Paul Smith and Maria English successfully negated the topic "That this House believes that New Zealand Political Parties should be fully state-funded" against the Auckland Blue team consisting of Sam George, Sam Bookman and Stephanie Thompson. In doing so they became the first Wellington team to win the Championships since 2004.

The Grand Final teams emerged from a field of 12 regional teams after five preliminary rounds and a semi-final. These were held in rooms provided by Victoria University of Wellington at their Pipitea campus. Over 100 schools and hundreds of students have already taken part in the Championships this year at Russell McVeagh regional tournaments up and down the country, from which the regional teams were selected to compete in Wellington. The Championships, established in 1988, now in their twentieth year, are recognised as the premier debating competition for schools in New Zealand.

After the Grand Final the members of the 2007 Russell McVeagh New Zealand Schools Debating team were announced. The five member team is made up of Jaz Nye Morris, Paul Smith, Maria English, Ella Edginton (Wellington Gold) and Jane Pring ( Central North Island). Jane Pring was named Captain of the New Zealand team for 2007 and Maria English was named as the Best Speaker at the 2007 Championships. Sam Bookman was named as first reserve for this team. The team will compete against international opposition in early 2008.

A New Zealand Schools Development Team was also named consisting of Holly Jenkins (Wellington Gold), Kurt Purdon (Otago-Southland) and Jennifer Savage ( Central North Island).

ENDS

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