Victoria University of Wellington Debating Society

Logo of Debsoc, 2007

Logo of the VUW Australs 2006

VUW Debsoc, Joynt Scroll 2006

The Victoria University of Wellington Debating Society (Inc.) is a New Zealand University Debating Society, formed in 1899, prior to the formation of Victoria University itself. The Society is run by an elected committee of eleven people (VUW students), which organises regular debating grades, public debates, debating tournaments, and social events.

The Society meets each week during the university year on Wednesday nights in the University's Student Union Building, and attends national and international tournaments during each of the mid-trimester and trimester breaks. The Society also organises the prestigious Plunket Medal Oratory Contest, the oldest prize for public speaking in New Zealand.

The President of the Society in 2009 is Polly Higbee. The 2010 President-elect is Seb Templeton.

The Patron of the Debating Society is Hon Christopher Finlayson, the Attorney-General in the New Zealand government, and a former member of the Society.

Debating Success

The VUW Debating Society is the most successful university debating society in New Zealand. Within New Zealand, it has won the Officers' Cup for impromptu debating at the New Zealand University Games sports tournament for the last eleven years. It is the current holder of the prestigious Joynt Scroll for prepared debating, and it has won this trophy more than any other university. It has won the NZ British Parliamentary Debating Champs in four of the five years it has been held. It is also the current holder of the "McLeod Trophy" for university debating at a novice level in the North Island ("Thropy").

The Society also has a long history of success in international tournaments. Victoria has reached the Grand Final of the Australasian Intervarsity Debating Championships in two of the last three years (2007 and 2009), finishing as runner-up on both occasions. In January 2009, a Victoria team reached the semi-finals of the World Universities Debating Championships in Cork, Ireland. Sayeqa Islam was the best speaker at the Australasian Intervarsity Debating Championships in 2007, only the second non-Australian and first New Zealander. Victoria hosted Australs in 2006, 1999, 1982, and 1980, and is the only New Zealand Debating Society to have won Australs, which it has done three times, in 1980, 1982, and 1998.

In November 2007, a team from Victoria won the Cambridge Union Intervarsity tournament, the first ever team from the southern hemisphere to win the prestigious tournament. The same team also finished as runners-up at the Oxford Union Intervarsity tournament, and the University College Dublin Vice-President's Cup competition.

The 2008 Debating Year

2008 will go down as one of the most successful years in the Society's history, following on from the record-breaking 2007 year. Victoria:

• Reached the semi-finals at the World Universities Debating Championshios ("Worlds"), with two speakers ranking in the top twenty five in the world;
• Had two teams reach the quarter-finals at the Australasian Intervarsity Debating Championships ("Australs"), with two speakers in the top ten on the tab;
• Had teams finish in 1st, 2nd, 4th and 5th place at the New Zealand Universities Impromptu Debating Champs ("Easters") as well as having the best two speakers and most promising speaker;
• Had teams finish in 1st and 2nd place at the North Island Novice University Debating Champs ("Thropy");
• Had teams finish in 1st and 2nd place at the New Zealand Universities Prepared Debating Champs ("Joynt Scroll") as well as the best speaker, the most promising speaker, a series of other individual prizes, and the best adjudicator; and
• Had teams finish in 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th place at the New Zealand British Parliamentary Open Debating Championships, including six speakers in the top ten, and the best novice speaker.

New Zealand British Parliamentary Open Debating Championships

Each year in December the Society organises a New Zealand invitational tournament, open to international teams and adjudicators. The tournament was first run in 2004 as the "Victoria IV". In 2006, the tournament became officially known as the "New Zealand British Parliamentary Open Debating Championships".

Past winners from Victoria:

• 2009: Udayan Mukherjee & Paul Smith
• 2008: Polly Higbee & Stephen Whittington
• 2007: Christopher Bishop & Gareth Richards
• 2005: Christopher Bishop & Gareth Richards
• 2004: Christopher Bishop & Gareth Richards

Past Best Speakers from Victoria:

• 2007: Gareth Richards
• 2006: Kevin Moar & Sayeqa Islam
• 2005: Sayeqa Islam
• 2004: Joe Connell

Winners of Joynt Scroll

The VUW Debating Society has won "Joynt Scroll", the New Zealand Universities Prepared Debating Championships, more often than any other Debating Society in New Zealand.

• 2009: S.J Templeton, S.A Whittington, E.T.V Edginton
• 2008: J.C Pring, K.L Errington & S.J Templeton
• 2007: C.J.S Bishop, J.S Connell & S.A Whittington
• 2006: H.A McCaffrey, P.H Higbee & L.J Holden
• 2003: C.J.S. Bishop, R. Clouston & S. Islam
• 2002: K.A.J. Moar, N.V Willis & D. Small
• 2000: A. Livesey, C. Payne & D. Small
• 1997: D.R Orange, H.M Finlay & B.J Gandy
• 1994: Miss C.M Williams, N.C Miller & B. Cash
• 1993: Miss C.M Williams, N.C Miller & Miss A.J Gillespie
• 1988: A.M Crawley, A.E Howman & D. Capie
• 1985: I.R Rennie, J.R King & D.I Stevens
• 1984: N.J.A Sainsbury, J.R King & D.I Stevens
• 1982: P.F Biggs, J.R Allen & D.I Stevens
• 1981: N.J.A Sainsbury, Ms M.D McCallum & Miss B.D Golder
• 1980: R.P Baker, P.M Ridley-Smith & R.K Stephenson
• 1978: D. Linney, S. Kos & R.P Baker
• 1977: C.D Falconer BA (Hons), D. Linney & R.P Baker
• 1976: C.D Falconer BA (Hons), D. Linney & V. Goldblatt MA (Hons)
• 1972: T.J Groser BA, P.F Boshier & R.A Campbell BA
• 1971: H.P Stubbs, J.G Blincoe & E.R Fairbrother
• 1970: H.S Hancock BA, H.P Stubbs & P.P Butler
• 1969: Miss B.A Foot, H.P Stubbs & B.R Newell
• 1966: J.C.M Rose BSc, G.P Curry & S.A Whitehouse
• 1965: P.J.R Blizard BA (Hons), D.A Shand & A.H Ashenden BCom
• 1964: P.J.R Blizard BA & J.B McKinley
• 1961: T.A Roberts & F.A Hamlin
• 1958: E.W Thomas LLB & J.M Whitta BCom
• 1943: Miss H. O'Flynn & K.T Fowler
• 1942: W. Wah & Miss B. Hutchinson
• 1940: P.J Sheehan & H.C Bowyer
• 1939: R.W Edgely & R.L Meek
• 1937: A.R Perry LLM & S.G Andrews MA
• 1932: H.R Bannister & Miss C.S Forde
• 1931: W.J Mountjoy & H.R Bannister
• 1928: J.F Platts-Mills & W.P Rollings
• 1925: S.E Baume & R.M Campbell
• 1923: J.W.C Davidson & F.H Haig
• 1919: E. Evans & W.E Leicester
• 1915: I.M Moss & L.P Leary
• 1914: G.G.G Watson MA/LLB & A.B Sievwright
• 1912: F.G Hall Jones BA & G.W Morice MA
• 1911: C.H Taylor MA & M.H Oram MA
• 1909: D.S Smith & G.H Gibb
• 1908: J. Mason & H.E Evans
• 1907: B.E Murphy BA & H.F O'Leary
• 1906: E.J Fitzgibbon & F.P Kelly

Winners of Officers' Cup

The VUW Debating Society has won the Officers' Cup, the New Zealand Universities Impromptu Debating Championships, for the last eleven years.

• 2009: Seb Templeton & Richard D'Ath
• 2008: Polly Higbee & Richard D'Ath
• 2007: Yogesh Patel & Stephen Whittington
• 2006: Tom Fitzsimons & Stephen Whittington
• 2005: Christopher Bishop & Joe Connell
• 2004: Christopher Bishop & Gareth Richards
• 2003: Ranald Clouston & Sayeqa Islam
• 2002: Chelsea Payne & Nicola Willis
• 2001: Kevin Moar & Nicola Willis
• 2000: Chelsea Payne & Duncan Small
• 1999: Matt Cuthell & Angela Ballantyne
• 1997: Rob Salmond & Ryan Orange
• 1996: Rob Salmond & Ryan Orange
• 1990: M Hickey & Justine Munro

Winners of the Plunket Medal

• 2009: A. Kang
• 2008: R.J D'Ath
• 2007: R.W Allan
• 2006: J.S Connell
• 2005: R.D Christie
• 2004: C. King
• 2003: M.F Mabbett
• 2000: R. Clouston
• 1999: M. Cuthell
• 1998: G. Cameron
• 1997: B.G.A Morris
• 1996: D.R Orange
• 1995: C. Holland
• 1994: R. Salmond
• 1993: Miss C.M Williams
• 1992: Miss A.J Gillespie
• 1991: N.C Miller
• 1990: Miss M.V Myers
• 1989: P. Diamond
• 1988: M.J Hickey
• 1987: N.D.J Coyle
• 1986: C.F Ryder
• 1985: J.M.R Fowler
• 1984: R.P Baker
• 1983: Miss J. Wilson
• 1982: N.J Sainsbury
• 1981: J.C Roseveare
• 1980: P.R Biggs
• 1979: D.R Cotterall
• 1978: L. O'Connor
• 1977: Miss H. Sinclair
• 1976: J. Bishop
• 1975: P. Greene
• 1974: R. Fairbrother
• 1973: Miss V. Mooney
• 1972: B. Newell
• 1971: D. L Hutchinson
• 1970: H.S Hancock
• 1969: Miss B.A Foot
• 1968: S. Italio
• 1967: P.P Butler
• 1966: J.R Wareham
• 1965: A.H Ashenden
• 1964: P.J Blizard
• 1963: A. Afeaki
• 1962: T.A Roberts
• 1961: F.A Hamlin
• 1960: Miss M. Boyle
• 1959: W. Waddell
• 1958: J.M Whitta
• 1957: W.D Dent
• 1956: H.C MacNeil
• 1955: G.N Cruden
• 1954: B.M Brown
• 1953: D.R Murray
• 1952: C.V Bollinger
• 1951: F.L Curtin
• 1950: M.F McIntyre
• 1949: H.J Brenda
• 1948: A.J Williams
• 1947: J.D Milburn
• 1946: K.B O'Brien
• 1945: K.L Neuberg
• 1944: J.C.P Williams
• 1943: H.M.B O'Leary
• 1942: Miss M.C Crompton
• 1941: L. Nathan
• 1940: J.B Bergin
• 1939: B.M O'Connor
• 1938: W. Wah
• 1937: A.H Scotney MA
• 1936: J.B Aimers
• 1935: K.J.T Tahiwi
• 1934: R.J Larkin
• 1933: A. Katz
• 1932: Miss C.S Forde
• 1931: Miss Z.R.M Henderson
• 1930: A.E Hurley
• 1929: A.D Priestley
• 1928: W.J Mountjoy
• 1927: W.P Pollinger
• 1926: J.F Platts-Mills
• 1925: S.E Baume
• 1924: J.W Davidson
• 1923: I.L Hjorring
• 1922: P.J.G Smith
• 1921: A.S Tonkin
• 1920: W.E Leicester
• 1919: C.G Kirk
• 1918: P. Martin-Smith
• 1917: Miss M. Neumann
• 1916: E. Evans
• 1913: Miss M.L Nicholls
• 1912: O.C Mazengarb MA
• 1911: F.G Hall Jones
• 1910: M.H Oram MA
• 1909: G.W Morice
• 1908: D.S Smith
• 1907: F.P Kelly
• 1906: H.F O'Leary
• 1905: E.J Fitzgibbon

Past Presidents

• 2009: Polly Higbee
• 2008: Christopher Bishop
• 2007: Christopher Bishop
• 2006: James Clark
• 2005: Gareth Richards
• 2004: Sayeqa Islam
• 2003: Malcolm Birdling
• 2002: Chelsea Payne
• 2001: Chelsea Payne
• 2000: Antonia Reid
• 1999: Matthew Cuthell

Life Members (and when inducted, if available)

• Christopher Bishop (2009)
• Gareth Richards (2008)
• Sayeqa Islam (2008)
• Kevin Moar (2006)
• Ryan Orange
• Jo Benseman
• Neil Miller
• Don Stevens
• Phillippa Doyle

Interesting information about the Society

The Society has adopted the song 'Victoria' by The Exponents as its unofficial anthem, sung on celebratory occasions like when a tournament is won.

Prominent debaters from the Society often go on to become Rhodes Scholars. Two of Victoria University's recent Rhodes Scholars, Malcolm Birdling and Chelsea Payne, were both Presidents of the Society, as have been a number of Rhodes Scholars before them, such as Alexandra Gillespie, and John Platts-Mills.

The Society has honours boards (maintained by the University) in the bottom foyer of the historic Hunter Building at Victoria University. The original wooden honours boards were maintained and restored when the Hunter Building itself was restored and renovated in the early 1990s. The honours boards list (by year) Victoria students who have won the Joynt Scroll, the Bledisloe Medal for Oratory, the Plunket Medal, and the Union Prize (now defunct).

Notable former members

• Hon. Christopher Finlayson MP - Attorney-General of New Zealand
• John Allen - Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and former CEO of New Zealand Post
• Hon. Tim Groser MP - Minister of Trade for New Zealand
• Hon. Bill English MP - Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand
• Hamish Hancock - former National Party MP and now Crown Counsel.
• Raybon Kan - Comedian, Sunday Star-Times columnist
• John Platts-Mills QC - Rhodes Scholar and UK MP
• Peter Boshier - Principal Judge of the Family Court of New Zealand
• Stephen Kos QC - prominent Wellington silk (formerly Chairman of Partners at Russell McVeagh)
• Sir Matthew Oram - Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives 1950-1957
• Rt.Hon. Sir Humphrey O'Leary KCMG - Chief Justice of New Zealand, 1946-1953
• Rt.Hon. Sir Edmund (Ted) Thomas - acting Justice of the Supreme Court of New Zealand
• Sir Brian Elwood - New Zealand Chief Ombudsman 1994-2003
• Sir David Smith - Justice of the Supreme Court (now the High Court) and Chancellor of Victoria University
• Oswald Chettle Mazengarb QC - Prominent Barrister and author of the Mazengarb Report
• Peter Biggs - Head of Colenso and former Chair of Creative NZ
• Dr Jeya Wilson, First New Zealand President of the Oxford Union (1986)
• Gerard Curry - prominent Auckland barrister (formerly Chairman of Partners at Russell McVeagh and lawyer for Alain Mafart and Dominique Prieur)

External links

• Society Website
• Society's blog
• NZUDC Website
• OUDS website