Selection into the New Zealand Schools’ Debating Team
Posted on May 31, 2019
Year 13 student Grace Baylis (Upham House) has been selected as part of the five-person New Zealand Schools’ Debating team, which will be attending the 2019 World Schools’ Debating Championship being held in Thailand at the end of July.
The team was selected at the 2019 New Zealand Debating Championship which was held from 24 – 27 May at Victoria University in Wellington. Twelve regional teams from across New Zealand took part. They comprised the best speakers from the hundreds of debaters who competed at various regional competitions held earlier in the year.
The Grand Final was hosted by National MP Christopher Bishop in the Legislative Council Chamber of Parliament and was attended by the Governor General, Dame Patsy Reddy. The motion for the final was “This house would allow only female lawmakers to make decisions about female health issues”. Auckland Blue affirmed the motion and Wellington Black negated. After an excellent and very close debate, Wellington Black was declared the winners in a 2 -1 decision.
After the Grand Final the members of the New Zealand team were announced. They are William Price (Westlake Boys’ High School), Mitchell Palmer (Auckland Grammar School), Grace Baylis (Macleans College), Kyus Rodgers (Lynfield College) and Harper Smith (Waikato Diocesan School for Girls). The best speaker of the Championship was Mitchell Palmer and William Price was named captain of the New Zealand team travelling to Thailand.
In Wellington the team Grace competed in was Auckland White. They were coached by former Macleans College student Zachary Wong (Batten House 2012 – 2016).