NZ Schools’ Debating Championships Grand Final

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E nga mana, e nga reo, e nga iwi o te motu e huihui nei, tēnei aku mihi māhana ki a koutou.  Kia ora tātou katoa.  Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, warm greetings to you all.

I specifically acknowledge: Hon Peter Dunne, Minister of the Crown and our Parliamentary host - tēnā koe; Christopher Bishop, President of the New Zealand Schools Debating Council - tēnā koe; Dr Andrew Stockley, Dean of the University of Auckland Law School - tēnā koe; Jan Blair, Tim Clarke and Desley Horton from sponsoring law firm, Russell McVeagh - tēnā koutou.

It is a great pleasure for Janine and me to be here today for this Grand Final of the 2012 New Zealand Schools’ Debating Championships.

I must say at the outset that when I was at school, I missed out on the opportunity to debate in this sort of forum. I instead thought the best forum for debate was with the Headmaster and Deputy Headmaster and their defeat over my argument was always a forgone conclusion!

The last time I was in this room was when I gave the Speech from the Throne at the State Opening of Parliament on 21 December last year.

When the members assembled in this Council Chamber, I informed them of the Government’s reasons for calling Parliament together in the Speech from the Throne.  Written by the Government, it is a statement of the issues and bills it wishes Members of Parliament to consider.

And of course it was part of the prescribed process for the State Opening of New Zealand’s 50th Parliament – our country’s lawmaker and the body that holds the Government to account for its policies, actions, and spending.

Although those in the room mostly consisted of elected members of Parliament, their reason for gathering was not too dissimilar to the reason you are here today – to enter into debate.

The New Zealand House of Representatives could be best described as the nation’s home of robust debate. Within these buildings, New Zealand’s chosen representatives debate issues on a range of subjects concerning New Zealand, its people, and the collective prosperity of both. 

Entering into debate is an essential part of questioning and examining viewpoints, actions, and issues within a healthy society, and in ensuring that we have a robust democracy.

The words of the former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher seem appropriate to mention:-
“I love argument, I love debate. I don't expect anyone just to sit there and agree with me, that's not their job.”

The need for discussion and debate, not just in Parliament, but in many forums, provide a means of accountability and a means of putting forward a wide range of opinions in a fair and controlled way.

We have just witnessed the top two secondary school debating teams  in the country go head to head on the topic of “That voters should have to pass a political literacy test in order to vote”. I am sure your nerves are still running high and you are still thinking about the things you could have said to make your argument even more convincing. As you well know, we will soon find out who the National Champions of this competition are. We will also find out who here has been selected to be part of the Debating Team which will represent New Zealand at the World Schools’ Debating Championships.

As is the nature of this competition, there can only be one champion – the team that presented the strongest and most convincing argument.

However, I congratulate everyone in this room who has taken part in this national competition. You each have chosen excellence in debating and have demonstrated great skill and knowledge during the past four days. 

I also congratulate the teachers and coaches, the sponsors, parents and supporters who have all had their own part to play in the success of the event, and of those students competing. 

Finally – I wish both sides the very best for the impending announcement! Regardless of the outcome, you will leave this competition having honed your skills in the art of debating, and have made new friends who you may well be extremely useful on your side of an argument at some point in the future!

Kia ora huihui tātou katoa.