Since its establishment in 1988, the New Zealand Schools’ Debating Council has worked to promote debating in secondary schools around the country.
The Council is responsible for the organisation of twelve Regional Championships that are held throughout New Zealand each year.
Teams are selected at each tournament to represent each region at the National Finals of the New Zealand Schools’ Debating National Championships held annually in Wellington.
At the New Zealand Schools’ Debating National Championships, the New Zealand Schools’ Debating Team is selected to represent New Zealand at the World Schools Debating Championships. New Zealand has a proud record at “Worlds”, having won the tournament four times since 1988 (in 1991, 1992, 1995 and 2009).
Our charitable organisation
The New Zealand Schools’ Debating Council
900+
Students participating
every year
12
Regional
Competitions
14
Teams compete
at Nationals
Our Patron
The Honourable Sir Stephen Kós KNZM KC, Judge of the Supreme Court of New Zealand
Executive Officers
Vice President
Robert Donohoe
Executive Officers
Melissa Connolly and Xandi Cooke
Regional Convenors
Northland | Joe Howells and Nicolas Powell
Auckland | Judy Fong and Robert Donohoe
Counties Manukau | Gabriel Toreja and Mannat Kaur
Waikato | Robert Hoskins and Tiana Mayo
Bay of Plenty | Ella Mitchell, Travis Dunningham, Cooper Stewart
Central North lsland | Sophie Crozier and Ollie Gillespie
Hawke’s Bay | Izzy Fraser
Wellington | Ethan Foster and Cara Homewood
Kahurangi / Marlborough | Lucy Jessep
Canterbury | Ned Brougham and Thomas Kamo
Otago | Samuel Blackwood and Annabel Rhodes
Southland | Lara Seaton and Alice McIntosh
Life Members
Rosemary Dixon
Alexandra Gillespie
Anna Livesey
Claire Ryan
Hayden Ryan
Dr. Andrew Stockley
Jeremy Johnson
Tim Stephens
Christopher Bishop
Josh Baxter
Sam O'Grady
History of the Council
Neither the National nor Regional Championships would occur without the effort of the many volunteers who have given freely of their time to organise debating in New Zealand since 1988. For information on previous Councils, and on those who have convened Regional Championships in the past, please follow the links to the right.