Debaters clinch regional title

There’s nothing like a good argument, and a group of Kapiti students have proven their skills at the art of disagreeing.

The Kapiti College year 9 debating team has won the Wellington Speaking Union Cup as the top junior secondary debaters in the region from a field of 55 teams.

On their way to becoming champions, the team beat the likes of Paraparaumu College and Hutt Valley High before squaring off against Sacred Heart College in the old legislative council chamber at Parliament buildings last week.

The moot for the final was that this government should not fund high-performance sports, with Kapiti drawing the negative.

Team captain Annie Budd said to debate at Parliament in a chamber with so much history was ‘‘amazing’’.

‘‘The debate went back and forth and at the end we had no idea who had won.

‘‘It was nerve-wracking waiting for the result.

‘‘We now know what it is like to be in a major debate and our aim is to be at the top level when we are seniors and competing for a place in the national team.’’

The team, coached by year 12 debater Ben Kieboom, lost a single debate this year, against the Kapiti number one team, all Year 10s.