The New Zealand Schools’ Debating Championships were held from the 27- 30 May, bringing together some of New Zealand’s top public speakers who battled it out at the lectern. Among these speakers were five of the Bay of Plenty’s best debaters, who made history as the first ever BOP team to make it to the national semi-finals.

After five years of debating, hundreds of topics, and countless hours of training, it was an immense privilege to attend my third and final National Championships as a representative of the Bay of Plenty Regional Debating Team. Due to an uncertain COVID climate, Nationals 2022 took on a slightly different structure, swapping out the prestigious chambers of Parliament for the Zoom-ready lecture theatres of Auckland University. Despite the change in location and need for an online hybrid model, the weekend was a great success and a wonderful way to end my regional debating experience.

Throughout the weekend, we tackled a range of thought-provoking topics. From economics, to education, to sports, to international relations, no stone was left unturned when it came to discussing some of the most pressing current issues. After six nail-biting rounds, our team came away with four wins, making regional history as the first Bay of Plenty team to make it to the national semi-finals. Unfortunately, the semi-finals saw us suffer a narrow defeat to Auckland White, who went on to win the championship title. Nonetheless, it was an incredible experience to compete against such talented speakers and we all learnt a lot in the process!

In a gratifying conclusion to my Nationals experience, I was selected as a reserve to the New Zealand Debating Team, who will represent Aotearoa virtually in Amsterdam in August. In the world of debating, the proverb “it takes a village” could not be more true. Throughout the years I have had the privilege of debating alongside some incredibly talented individuals who have helped me to grow as a speaker, as well as a group of dedicated coaches who have so kindly sat through hours of speeches to get me to where I am today. The debating community truly embodies whanaungatanga and provides a safe and nurturing environment for young orators nationwide. In particular, I owe a great deal of thanks to Mr Rumbold and all of the students in the Tauranga Girls’ College Debating Club who I have been incredibly lucky to coach and be coached by during my five years at TGC. These students have become like a second whānau to me and never cease to amaze me with their skills and ideas.

If you are looking for a fun way to improve your confidence and public speaking skills, debating is a fantastic place to start. TGC Debating is held after school every Thursday in B6 and all year levels and abilities are welcome to come along. 

From left to right, back row: Zar Sinclair (Coach), Travis Dunningham (John Paul College), Kale Adair (Coach), Peter Gedye (Tauranga Boys’ College), Arcadia Wardley (Bethlehem College)
Front row: Melissa Connolly (Coach), Ella Mitchell (Tauranga Girls’ College), Sophia Mitchell (Bethlehem College)