What Was Hot

• If you would like to join a mailing list for discussing adult debating,. please send an email message to listserver@ada.org.nz with the subject of the message SUBSCRIBE ADULTDEBATING

  We would welcome your comments on the proposals for adult debating in 2002

• We've updated historical information on past winners of the advanced debating competition
• We've added some historical notes on the Auckland Festival Debates
• We've been informed that Wellington sought approval from the Executive committee of the New Zealand Debating Council before cancelling the 1998 national debating champtionships. Although the Executive committee has no power or authority to authorisation the cancellation, it is an improvement in Wellington's behaviour to at least consult before cancelling. Of the four times Wellington has offered to host the national championships in the last five years, they have unlawfully cancelled all four times. I hope that other debating organisations learn from this - this was the reason Auckland opposed their bid to host the 1998 championships and events have proven the ADA to be right.

  Wellington has made the claim that it is the fault of the teams. In fact it is easy to show that it is Wellington's attitude and willingness to unlawfully cancel that is at fault. In 1997 Auckland successfully hosted the national championships despite active opposition from Wellington during the year. Our success was ensured by one simple fact: we guaranteed that the championships would go ahead, regardless, as required by the constitution of the New Zealand Debating Council. Wellington refused to give this assurance, when specifically asked, when making a bid to host the 1998 championships. Their failure is no surprise, but very damaging to New Zealand debating.

• We've added information on university competitions
• Takapuna Grammar School The Ministry of Silly Talks defeated Epsom Girls Grammar School Kl to win the ADA Auckland/Northland Senior Prepared Debating Competition for 1998
• St Kentigern College The Legends defeated King's College Gold to win the ADA Auckland/Northland Advanced Prepared Debating Competition for 1998.
• The number of schools participating in the prepared debating competition is now available
• Auckland performed really well in the New Zealand Schools limited preparation debating competitions. The team (coached by Andrew Doherty and Sacha Judd) won all 5 of its rounds and a semifinal. The final was in the Legislative Council Chambers in front of the Governor-General. They narrowly lost the final to one of the Wellington teams (the adjudicators were split) and should have won in the view of many in the audience. Two Aucklanders have been selected for the NZ team and one is a reserve. The Captain of the NZ team to go to London, England in 1999 for the World Schools' Competition, is Francis Reid from Westlake Boys, while Jesse Wilson from Auckland Grammar is another team member and Nikki Willis from Kings is the reserve. So all in all they did astonishingly well and certainly the Auckland Schools team made a splash after a few years of less exciting performances. This is a reflection of the increasing strength of school debating in the region.
• We've updated some of the stories and history of the ADA. Feel free to contribute your own stories, or correct or add to the ones listed.
• Need to contact somone about debating? Check our our Who's Who of debating in New Zealand. Additions and corrections are welcome.
• The ADA gets a favourable mention in the New Zealand Herald, as Dr Greg Newbold recalls the success of Paremoremo prison in the debating competitions.
• As a non-profit organisation we are accountable to our members and supporters for the use of our funds. You invite you to check out our accounts for the year to date. We value any comments you have.
• Toastmasters International has started a club in Mt Albert. So far 15 members have joined. They are looking for new members. There are 50 clubs around Auckland teaching communication skills to employers and employees through speechcraft courses. The next Mt Albert meeting is at 7.30pm on Thursday 26 March at Ferndale House. All enquiries, please phone Lyn Harris-Hogan on 8334338 and mention you saw the notice on this web site.
• Does anyone have any contact details for Sacha Judd, Cushla Judd and Kylie Julian? Please let me know
• We've updated some of the newspaper clipping about debating. If you have any clippings that we can add, or you see anything in the papers about debating, please let me know
• We continue our recording and storing of archives. We've just added some more newsletters and executive meeting minutes. If you have some old records, photos or information about the ADA, please share it with us.
• Congratulations to Gavin Logan for achieving Silver ATM with Toastmasters.
• We're building up a list of our trophies and where they are. Please help us fill in the blanks.
• We've updated the list of the winners of the Sir John Allum Cup. Can you help fill in the blanks?
• Moots for advanced and senior school prepared debating competitions are now available. We've also updated the list of winners of the advanced competition. Can you help fill in the blanks?
• Congratulations to John Donaldson on achieving CTM with Maungakiekie Toastmasters.
• If you can get at least thirty students willing to pay $3 each for a school debating seminar we'll run one for you.
• The Athenaeum Cup competition dates, moots and rules have been announced.
• We've added some notes on preparing arguments and identifying logical fallacies.
• We've updated the information on the venues for school debates, added information on the makeup of school teams and on marksheets and important information on the different levels of school competitions. We've also added notes on finding adjudicators for senior level debates. The ADA rules have been expanded to include the duties of the Chair and timekeeper.
• Claire Ryan (Captain), Neil Miller, Rob Salmond and Ryan Orange were selected as the 1997 New Zealand Debating Team. Reserves are Bryn Gandy and Jackie White.
• Ben's Bowl, awarded to the most successful member union at the New Zealand Debating Championships, was jointly won by New Zealand Toastmasters, Wellington Speaking Union, and New Zealand Universities Debating Council. As winners of the prepared debating, New Zealand Toastmasters took possession of Ben's Bowl.
• New Zealand Toastmasters won the Sir Charles Norwood Trophy for National Prepared debating. Wellington Speaking Union was runner up.
• The New Zealand Universities Debating Council won the Wellington Cup for National Impromptu debating. Wellington Speaking Union was runner up.
• Wellington Speaking Union will be hosting the New Zealand Debating Championships 25-27 September 1998.
• The Canterbury Cup for National Impromptu Speaking was won by Neil Miller of New Zealand Universities Debating Council. Brian Arps of New Zealand Toastmasters was runner-up.
• Congratulations to Chris Corry of the Wellington Speaking Union, winner of the Protectus Cup for National Oratory. Congreartulations, too, to Bill Brimming of the Auckland Debating Association who was runner-up.
• You can read the agenda for the next ADA Executive meeting
• From 1998 schools will be required to have more involvement in ADA organisation. Please read the details.
• Would anyone with contact information for Kylie Julian, Ben Wilson or Nicki Tarulevicz please contact me
• The Auckland City Council presented the ADA with a certificate to mark over 100 years of service to the community.
• Minutes of the 1997 Annual General Meeting are now available
• Foreign institutions are most welcome to enter our debating competitions and the 1997 New Zealand Debating Championships
• Congratulations to ITC Council 5 (negative) for a win over ITC Council 10 in their biennial inter-council debate: "That we are subjects of the establishment"
• Congratulations to Pakuranga College (affirmative) for a win over Howick Toastmasters in a debate to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Howick: "That after 150 years it's great to be young in Howick."
• 1997 schools prepared debating results
  • Advanced was won by King's College against Senior College of New Zealand
  • Senior was won by Macleans College against St Kentigern College
  • Junior was won by St Kentigern College against Pakuranga College
• Congratulations to Advanced Toastmasters for winning the Auckland Toastmasters Prepared Debating competition. This team will represent NZ Toastmasters at the New Zealand Debating Championships
• Volunteer for adjudicating
• Tell me about the New Zealand Debating Championships
• Put me on the ADA mailing list
• Whatever happened to whats-their-name?