This year an argumentative group of students were encouraged by Mr Russell Cairns to sharpen their tongues, hone their fighting skills, and join the New Zealand Schools' Debating Competition.

During Term 1 debates had to be held via zoom but in Term 2, escorted by Mrs Joanne Clark, they started live rounds at St Andrew's College on Thursday evenings. We have just been through round 5, a senior team - Tia and Ebony were "iron-manning"  (having only 2 speakers instead of 3) and put forward a strong case deploring schools poaching sports students. This was our first debate with interjections which they deflected with confidence. A junior team - Risha, Emalea and Ebony, scored our first win in a complex argument about disclosure culture. All of the debaters have gained new skills in identifying key arguments, structuring their speeches, developing ideas and speaking with confidence. We look forward to growing public speaking and debating in our kura.

Ebony, Risha, Emalea