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Bay of Plenty / Te Moana-a-Toi Regional debating team
 

Ella prepares for National Debating competition

Caroline Gill —

After being named in the Bay of Plenty / Te Moana-a-Toi regional team, Ella has been preparing hard for the national competition later this month.

After Tauranga Girls' College won the BOP Regional Debating Championship in 2020, Ella Mitchell was named the Best Speaker, securing a place in the The Bay of Plenty / Te Moana-a-Toi team. However, due to lockdown, the national tournament was restricted to zoom.

A year on, the team are looking strong to take on other regional teams at the New Zealand Schools’ Debating competition in Wellington from 28 - 31 May which is organised by the New Zealand Schools’ Debating Council.

At the National Championships, the New Zealand Schools’ Debating Team is selected to represent New Zealand at the World Schools’ Debating Championships. 

The Bay of Plenty / Te Moana-a-Toi team is made up of three representatives and two reserves who are coached by volunteer second year Auckland University students Grace Baylis and Harper Smith who are both talented debaters themselves having been part of the NZ World debating team in 2019.

Ella who is a Year 12 student and the Board of Trustees student representative, debates alongside fellow team mates Arcadia Wardley from Bethlehem College and Travis Dunningham from John Paul College.

All the best Ella!