New Zealand Schools Debating Championships

I begin by greeting everyone in the languages of the realm of New Zealand, in English, Māori, Cook Island Māori, Niuean, Tokelauan and New Zealand Sign Language.  Greetings, Kia Ora, Kia Orana, Fakalofa Lahi Atu, Taloha Ni and as it is the morning  (Sign)

I then specifically greet you: Minister of the Crown, and Member of Parliament for Ohariu Belmont, Hon Peter Dunne, Minister of Revenue and our host at Parliament today; Christopher Bishop, President of the New Zealand Schools Debating Council; Hamish MacIntosh and Jan Blair from sponsoring law firm, Russell McVeagh; Distinguished Guests otherwise; Ladies and Gentlemen. 

Thank you for inviting Susan and me to attend the Grand Final of the 2011 New Zealand Schools Debating Championships here in Parliament’s Legislative Council Chamber.

This is the fifth and last occasion, that I will have the honour of addressing the winners of the New Zealand Schools Debating Championships as the time in the Governor-General role ends in 85 days time on 23 August.  It has been a delight each year for us to come and see and hear New Zealand’s finest young debaters pitching their oratorical skills and wit in a fine competition.

Like Hon Peter Dunne, who has hosted this event here in Parliament for many years, I have been a strong supporter of this competition.  There are several reasons for this.

The first arises from my individual personal and professional experience.  At school and later at University I became a keen debater.  When I first went to University, it was not to be a lawyer, but to follow in family footsteps towards a degree in medicine.  Not long into the 1964 academic year at the University of Otago in Dunedin, I realised that being a doctor was not the career for me, that notion being confirmed with some certainty in the examination results at the year’s end. 

When I returned to Auckland at the end of the year, naturally somewhat subdued, I had to decide upon a new course of action.  In trying to decide what I might do next, I drew on a love of reading and writing and debating and decided that a career in law would allow me to put them to good use.
 
Being able to debate a proposition in front of a group of people, often complete strangers, provides the self-confidence to articulate a clear argument when speaking, whether it be to a small meeting or a packed lecture theatre.  This is a skill that is advantageous in any career, whether that be in the law, in business, the public service, scientific, in cultural endeavours and, dare I say it, in medicine.

I also found that debating improved written language ability as well.  In a debate, the limited time which is provided to persuade the judges of the merit of your argument, while pointing out the pitfalls of the opposing team’s position encourages distillation of thought.

This in turn, encourages one to focus on the key issues and to pare away superfluous material.  This is an art, which when translated into the written word, is invaluable in expressing a clear argument in an economical number of words—whether it be a submission, a business case, an article in a newspaper, a report to a manager or a judgment.

My second point is that the value of debating goes beyond the language skills it fosters.  Healthy debate—the argument of various points of view—is one of the pillars of a working democracy.  It is through thoughtful discussion of issues that any group of people, be that a community group, a business or a nation, decides upon a course of action and then moves forward.

Plans of action will be made stronger and more robust by being tested through debate and discussion.  It may be adopted as originally proposed, or modified in light of the new information offered.  Alternatively it may be abandoned altogether and a new approach sought.  It is through discussion that we learn.  As the 18th century French essayist Joseph Joubert once wrote:

“It is better to debate a question without settling it than to settle a question without debating it.”

Being adept in debate and acquiring the skills to construct words or phrases, which move an audience, can make one very powerful.  Although it is said that the pen is mightier than the sword, the spoken word also remains powerful.

Words are not without consequences.  History contains a number of examples of orators who have used their skills to cause great harm, for example, by inciting racial or religious violence.  Rhetorical skills should never, in my view be used to demonise others, whether it be an opponent in a debate such as this, a political opponent on the opposite benches of Parliament, or a minority group in society.

In conclusion, I commend the New Zealand Schools Debating Council for continuing to organise these debating championships and the sponsors for their support.  It is in the nature of a competition such as this that only one team can win.  However, the quality of the arguments from both sides has been impressive and, win or lose, I feel sure that Susan and I and all of us will be hearing more from the members of both teams in the years ahead.  I congratulate you on your performance this morning and wish you all the best with your future study and careers

And on a note congratulation and anticipation of the verdict to be announced presently, I will close in New Zealand’s first language by offering everyone greetings and wishing you all good health and fortitude in your endeavours.  No reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, kia ora, kia kaha, tēnā koutou katoa.