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Victoria wins bid to host 2006 Australasian Debating Champs; best results for NZ teams since 1998.
Wednesday, July 20th, 2005
New Zealand universities have recorded their best result since 1998 at the annual Australasian Intervarsity Debating Championships, recently concluded in Brisbane. In 1998 the international tournament, competed between teams from across Asia, Australia and New Zealand was won by Victoria University. Victoria will host the tournament in 2006 for the second time in 30 years.
The Championships is the second largest debating competition in the world, and this year involved 75 teams (over 300 debaters and judges) from Australia, New Zealand, and as far away as Japan, South Korea, and Singapore.
The Victoria University A team of Christopher Bishop, Joe Connell, and Gareth Richards were ranked 9th after the preliminary rounds, defeated Sydney A in the octo-finals, before being knocked out in the quarter-finals by the eventual winners, Sydney B.
The Otago University A team of Kate Wevers, Renee Heal, and Laura Fraser were ranked 15th after the preliminary rounds, and were knocked out in the octo-finals by Multimedia University of Malaysia.
The Auckland University A team of Jordan Ward, James Little and Desley Horton were ranked 16th after the preliminary rounds, and were also knocked out in the octo-finals, by Sydney B.
Four speakers from New Zealand were ranked in the top 25 in the tournament – Christopher Bishop, Joe Connell, Gareth Richards (Victoria) and Jordan Ward (Auckland).
The President of the New Zealand Universities’ Debating Council, Danie Beukman, said the results were “fantastic news for New Zealand debating†and reflected “the strong domestic debating sceneâ€.
There was more good news when it was announced that the next host of the Championships will be Victoria University of Wellington. Mr Beukman said that it was “wonderful news that the tournament was returning to New Zealand for the first time since 1999. It will provide a wonderful opportunity to show off Wellington, New Zealand, and New Zealand university debating.â€
Christopher Bishop, who will convene the tournament next year, said that he was “looking forward to showing debaters from across Asia and Australia the wonderful city of Wellingtonâ€
Victoria University of Wellington Debating Society is proud to be the host of the Australasian Intervarsity Debating Championship in 2006, and will be seeking support and sponsorship from parties interested in reaching the smartest and most influential young people from across the Asia-Pacific region.
For more information, please contact
Christopher Bishop, 021 047 0947
Convenor, Australasian Intervarsity Debating Championships 2006
Kevin Moar, 021 166 2369
Chief Adjudicator, Australasian Intervarsity Debating Championships 2006
Former President, Australasian Intervarsity Debating Association
Danie Beukman, 021 135 6313
President, New Zealand Universities’ Debating Council
