6 August 2010
For immediate release
NZ’s top student debaters to confront alcohol law reform
Thirty six of New Zealand’s top secondary school debaters will gather in Wellington this weekend for the National Finals
of the Russell McVeagh New Zealand Schools Debating Championships, hosted by Victoria University of Wellington.
Teams from Wellington, Auckland, Canterbury, Otago-Southland, Hawke’s Bay, Northland, Central North Island, Waikato and
Nelson-Marlborough will take part in five preliminary rounds of debates over the weekend at Victoria University of
Wellington’s Law School.
Students will only find out the topic and what side they are to argue one hour before the debate.
The Grand Final between the top two teams at the Championships will take place in the Legislative Council Chamber at
Parliament on Monday 9 August at 10am, hosted by Hon Peter Dunne, and attended by the Governor-General.
The motion for the Grand Final is the highly topical “That we should ban all forms of alcohol advertising"
The New Zealand Drug Foundation and Alcohol Advisory Council are partnering with the Championships this year and the
topic reflects their support of well-informed debate about drug issues in New Zealand.
Christopher Bishop, the President of the New Zealand Schools’ Debating Council which organises the tournament, said that
the final topic should make for a great debate in a highly appropriate setting.
“The Law Commission’s report on alcohol use in New Zealand has kick-started a debate about our drinking culture and it
will be fascinating to see what arguments New Zealand’s brightest young minds make for and against the motion", he said.
Wellington are the defending champions.
The best five speakers at the tournament will be named as members of the Russell McVeagh New Zealand Schools’ Debating
Team and represent New Zealand at an international tournament in early 2011.
The Russell McVeagh New Zealand Schools' Debating Championships have been held annually since 1988 and are recognised as
the country's most prestigious school debating competition.
Members of the public and media are invited to watch the debating action at the Victoria University Law School this
weekend. A full timetable of when and where the rounds are on can be found at www.debating.org.nz.
ends