Girls’ High claim central North Island title
Palmerston North Girls’ High School has won the central North Island regional schools debating championships.
The Girls’ High team of Hallie Williamson, Pari Rao and Ester Steer beat Palmerston North Boys’ High School in the grand final at Whanganui Collegiate School on Sunday.
Girls’ High were ecstatic with the result after they finished second last year.
The teams in the grand final debated whether social change movements, such animal rights and environmental activists, should prioritise advocacy that focused on incremental smaller reforms rather than absolute changes.
The annual event involved 32 teams this year from around the region, the most its had.
“We’re thrilled to have had so many smart and articulate students put their critical thinking skills into action,” New Zealand Schools' Debating Council president Chris Ryan said.
Whanganui MP Carl Bates spoke about the importance of debating in all walks of life and presented the awards.
Students debated in three preliminary rounds, on topics ranging from the necessity of human exploration in space, to the merits of reboots in Hollywood films.
“It’s great to see students as young as 13 speaking powerfully on these complex issues,” Ryan said.
Students had half an hour to prepare their speeches after finding out what side of the topic they were arguing.
A squad of three debaters was chosen to compete at the New Zealand Schools' Debating Championships in Wellington in May.
The central North Island team will be represented by: Tyler Thompson (Boys’ High), Nathan Yue (Whanganui Collegiate School) and Ester Steer (Girls’ High).
The New Zealand championships have been held annually since 1988 and are recognised as the country’s most prestigious school debating competition.
The championships are run by the New Zealand Schools’ Debating Council, a charity that works to promote debating in secondary schools around the country.