New Zealand Debating Council

Regulations Governing the New Zealand Debating Championships

Part One: General

Article One: Organisation

1. Each year the Council shall organise and conduct a debating and public speaking tournament to be known as The New Zealand Debating Championships.
2. The date and place of the Championships shall be as directed by the Council in general meeting, or in the event of circumstances arising which make the proposed date or place impracticable, as approved by the Executive.

Article Two: Competitions

Article Three: Convenor

1. Appointment
   1. A convenor shall be appointed for each Championships by the host Union in accordance with the Constitution. Such appointment shall take effect once approved by the Executive or by the Council in general meeting. Where possible a Convenor should have participated in previous debating tournaments and possess demonstrated administrative ability. Upon accepting such appointment the said Convenor shall only be entitled to compete in the Championships by permission of the Executive.
   2. A new Convenor may be appointed upon the decision of the host Union, such appointment to be approved and to take effect as provided by the Constitution and these Regulations.
   3. The host Union may at its discretion establish a committee to assist the Convenor in the exercise of his or her functions. Such committee shall be chaired by the Convenor and shall be responsible to him or her.
2. Functions
   1. The Convenor shall have general charge of organising the Championships.
   2. The Convenor shall be specifically responsible:
      1. To notify members of arrangements concerning the Championships;
      2. To prepare a timetable for the tournament and draws for the competitions;
      3. To prepare topics for competitions where required;
      4. To arrange adjudicators;
      5. To arrange chairpersons and timekeepers;
      6. To arrange venues;
      7. To arrange accommodation for participants as requested;
      8. To arrange the Council dinner and catering for the tournament;
      9. To arrange publicity for the tournament and the competitions;
      10. To print a programme of events and rules;
      11. To arrange the collection of all trophies for presentation;
      12. To liaise with contestants and adjudicators during the tournament;
      13. To perform such other functions as are delegated to him or her by the Executive or the officers.
   3. The Convenor shall be responsible to the Executive and, between Executive meetings, to the officers of the Council, for organising the tournament and exercising his or her said functions. The Convenor shall submit the topics, draw, list of adjudicators, and details of other arrangements to the Executive or, where more practicable, to the officers for approval.
   4. The Convenor shall be responsible for all finances relating to the Championships and shall present an audited financial report to the Executive. The host Union runs the competition at their own loss/gain.

Article Four: Entries

1. Four months prior to the Championships the Convenor shall write to each member inviting it to send representatives to compete at the Championships. The Convenor shall also extend invitations to such other organisations as are directed by the Executive.
2. Each member or organisation invited to compete shall submit in writing to the Convenor a list of the entries it wishes to make in each competition. The Convenor may circulate an entry form for this purpose. All entries must be received by the Convenor no later than three months prior to the Championships in order to be accepted. Late entries may only be accepted by decision of the Convenor and the officers. No entry may be accepted unless accompanied by the required entry fee.

Article Five: Adjudicators

1. Adjudicators shall wherever possible be persons who have recently competed at a national level in the competitions which they are to judge or whose competence and experience are nationally recognised.
2. Adjudicators for each competition shall be selected by the Convenor, subject to the approval of the Executive or, where more practicable, of the officers of the Council, who may require such changes as they see fit.
3. The Council shall attempt to assist the attendance of appropriate adjudicators at each Championships.
4. The Executive or, where more practicable, the officers shall appoint three adjudicators to act as the selectors of the New Zealand Debating Team.

Article Six: Tournament Arrangements

1. An opening meeting for all competitors and adjudicators shall be called at each Championships. The tournament shall be opened by the President of the Council, or such person as he or she invites, after which the Convenor shall outline and explain the rules and arrangements for the competitions as required and answer any questions which may be raised.
2. A Council dinner shall be held at each Championships for all competitors and adjudicators.

Part Two: Prepared Debating

Preamble

Article One: Entries

1. Up to 16 teams shall be permitted to enter the Norwood Competition for prepared debating.
2. Each member Union (and other organisations invited to participate by the Executive) shall be entitled as of right to enter one team in the Norwood Competition. A member wishing to enter a team must notify the Convenor on the appropriate entry form and pay the required entry fee by the due date.
3. Teams of individuals (to be known as "wildcard teams") may apply to enter the Norwood Competition. Any such team wishing to enter must notify the Convenor on the appropriate entry form and pay the required entry fee by the due date. Each such team shall be required to set out full details of the previous debating experience of all team members.
4. A wildcard entry shall only be eligible for consideration if, as at the closing date for entries, all team members have either:
   1. previously represented a member Union in prepared debating; or
   2. previously competed in the Norwood Competition.
   3. competed in their Union's highest grade and been deemed to be of an appropriate level by the Convenor and the Council's officers.
5. Should there be more wildcard teams than places available, the Convenor shall select the teams to compete using the following criteria:
   • Each team member will have individual points allotted according to the following schedule of marks
   • The three speakers' scores will then be aggregated and the teams with the highest scores will take the available wildcard places in the contest.
   • Over the previous three years speakers will receive appropriate points according to their highest achievement.
     • 3 - Winner of regional contest
     • 4 - McComish semi-finalist
     • 5 - McComish finalist
     • 6 - Winner McComish
     • 6 - Norwood quarter-finalist
     • 7 - Norwood semi-finalist
     • 8 - Norwood finalist
     • 9 - Winner Norwood
     • 10- NZ team member or reserve
   • After selection of teams no substitution of named team members would be possible unless teams elect to nominate four speakers. If they do so, only the lowest three scores will count. In the case of such a team being successful in gaining a wildcard place, they would then be entitled to use any three of the four named speakers.
   • Teams entering under 4(c) to be withdrawn first.
6. A wildcard team accepted for the Norwood Competition may substitute one member in the event of illness or other emergency accepted by the Convenor. The person substituted shall be required to meet the conditions of paragraph 4 of this article. A wildcard team required to substitute more than one member shall be withdrawn from the competition.

Article Two: Topics and Draw

1. The Convenor shall notify all teams accepted for the Norwood Competition as soon as possible.
2. The Convenor shall send all teams a list of the topics to be debated in all rounds of the Competition no later than one month before the Championships. The list of topics shall be accompanied by the draw for the preliminary rounds, the said draw to be chosen by lot with the proviso that no team shall debate any other team more than once in the preliminary rounds.

Article Three: Preliminary Rounds

1. There shall be three preliminary rounds in which all teams shall compete.
2. A team which defaults a debate in the preliminary rounds shall be accorded a loss for such default and the team which was defaulted against shall be accorded a win.

Article Four: Quarter-Finals

1. The best eight teams from the preliminary rounds shall be selected to compete in the quarter-finals of the Norwood Competition. The Convenor shall determine such teams on the basis of the number of wins each team receives in the preliminary rounds, the team with the highest number of wins having first priority to a place in the quarter-finals followed by the team with the second highest number of wins and so forth until all eight team places are filled.
2. In the event of two or more teams having an equal number of wins the Convenor, in consultation with the Council's officers may use the "run-off" limited preparation debates and/or "count-back" system to determine quarter-final or semi-final places.

Article Five: Else McComish Plate Competition

1. The teams not selected to compete in the quarter-finals of the Norwood Competition shall compete in the quarter-finals of the Elsie McComish Plate Competition. The same motions shall be used in the quarter-finals and semi-finals of the McComish Plate Competition as are used in the quarter-finals and semi-finals of the Norwood Competition. The Final of the McComish Plate Competition shall be held immediately prior to the Final of the Norwood Competition.
2. The Else McComish Plate shall be awarded to the winning team in the McComish Plate Competition.

Article Six: Elimination Rounds

Article Seven: Rules of Debate

1. Each team shall consist of three speakers, the leader of a team my be either the first or the second speaker.
2. Speaking Times
   Speaking times shall be ten minutes for each speaker with six minute replies by each leader, the Affirmative leader having the final reply.
3. There shall be a warning bell two minutes before the expiration of time, and two bells at the expiration of time for all speeches.
4. Order
   The conduct and control of the debate shall be the responsibility of the Chairperson.
5. Interjections from teams and audience shall be allowed at the discretion of the Chairperson provided that these do not constitute heckling. The Chairperson may prohibit interjections at any time. No interjections shall be permitted during the reply speeches.
6. Point of Order
   A point of order may be raised by any team member on one of the following grounds:
   1. That the speaker or any person present is behaving in a disorderly manner;
   2. That the speaker is using personal abuse or offensive language;
   3. That the speaker is misquoting an earlier speaker on a material point in that debate;
   4. That the leader in his or her reply is introducing new matter into the debate other than that fairly used in rebuttal; or
   5. That any other of these rules for the conduct of the debate is not being observed.
7. A point of order may only be raised during or immediately after the act complained of. The Chairman may rule on a point of order without debate, butt may allow a member of each team to speak briefly to the point of order. When a point of order is raised the speaker shall resume his or her seat until the Chairperson's ruling has been delivered. Speaking times shall be calculated by excluding from the time allowed any time taken up by points of order or any other interruption to speeches.
8. Adjudication
   The semi-final and Final rounds shall be judged by panels of three adjudicators.
9. In the event of there being a panel of adjudicators, each adjudicator shall deliver his or her decision without conferral to the Chairperson of the debate. The adjudicators shall then retire to consider the presentation of their decision, and the award of best and second best speaker for the debate. All adjudicators shall be invited to comment on the debate after which the Chairperson shall announce the result of the debate, stating whether such a result was by unanimous or majority decision, and shall announce the best speaker placings.
10. Marksheet

    Marks shall be allocated to each debater and each team in accordance with the marking schedule set out below, a copy of which shall be supplied to each adjudicator.

Part Three: Impromptu Debating

Preamble

Article One: Entries

1. Up to 16 teams shall be permitted to enter the Wellington Cup Competition for impromptu debating.
2. Each member Union (and other organisations invited to participate by the Executive) shall be entitled as of right to enter one team in the Wellington Cup Competition. A member wishing to enter a team must notify the Convenor on the appropriate entry form and pay the required entry fee by the due date.
3. Teams of two or three individuals (to be known as "wildcard teams") may apply to enter the Wellington Cup Competition. Any such team wishing to enter must notify the Convenor on the appropriate entry form and pay the required entry fee by the due date. Each such team shall be required to set out full details of the previous impromptu debating experience of all team members.
4. A wildcard entry shall only be eligible for consideration if, as at the closing date for entries, all team members have either:
   1. previously represented a member Union in prepared debating; or
   2. previously competed in the Wellington Cup Competition.
5. The Convenor shall accept the entries of all member Unions and organisations invited to participate by the Executive. Should there be less than 16 such entries, the Convenor shall allocate the remaining places in the Competition to eligible wildcard teams. Should there be more eligible wildcard teams than places available, the Convenor shall conduct a ballot of the eligible wildcard teams for the remaining placed, such ballot to be held as directed by the Executive or, where more practicable, by the officers. Reserve teams may also be balloted in the event that one of the 16 teams accepted for the Wellington Cup Competition withdraws.
6. The Convenor shall notify all teams accepted for the Wellington Cup Competition as soon as possible.

Article Two: Format

Article Three: Rules of Impromptu Debating

1. Each team shall consist of two speakers.
2. Subjects
   For each debate two subjects chosen by the Convenor in consultation with the officers, shall be placed in an envelope. The two subjects should be widely differing, one being of a philosophical nature and one of a factual nature.
3. A coin shall be tossed by the Chairperson and the team winning the toss may choose to select either the subject or the side of the debate. The team with the choice of subject shall then be given the envelope containing the two subjects and shall have one minute to determine which of the two subjects shall be debated. Thereafter, the other team shall have one minute to decide whether it shall affirm or negate the subject chosen.
4. From the time when sides are determined, the Affirmative shall have three minutes preparation before its leader opens its case.
5. Speaking Times
   Speaking times shall be six minutes for each speaker, with four minute replies by each leader, the Affirmative leader having the final reply.
6. There shall be a warning bell two minutes before the expiration of time, and two bells at the expiration of time for all speeches.
7. Order
   The conduct and control of the debate shall be the responsibility of the Chairperson.
8. Interjections from teams and audience shall be allowed at the discretion of the Chairperson provided that these do not constitute heckling. The Chairperson may prohibit interjections at any time. No interjections shall be permitted during the reply speeches.
9. Points of Order
   A point of order may be raised by any team member on one of the following grounds:
   1. That the speaker or any person present is behaving in a disorderly manner;
   2. That the speaker is using personal abuse or offensive language;
   3. That the speaker is misquoting an earlier speaker on a material point in that debate;
   4. That the leader in his or her reply is introducing new matter into the debate other than that fairly used in rebuttal; or
   5. That any other of these rules for the conduct of the debate is not being observed.
10. A point of order may only be raised during or immediately after the act complained of. The Chairperson may rule on a point of order without debate, but may allow a member of each team to speak briefly to the point of order. When a point of order is raised the speaker shall resume his or her seat until the Chairperson's ruling has been delivered. Speaking times shall be calculated by excluding from the time allowed any time taken up by points of order or any other interruption to speeches.
11. Adjudication
    The semi-final and Final rounds shall be judged by panels of three adjudicators.
12. In the event of there being a panel of adjudicators, each adjudicator shall deliver his or here decision without conferral to the Chairperson of the debate. The adjudicators shall then retire to consider the presentation of their decision, and the award of best and second best speaker for the debate. All adjudicators shall be invited to comment on the debate after which the Chairperson shall announce the result of the debate, stating whether such a result was by unanimous or majority decision, and shall announce the best speaker placings.
13. Marksheet
    Marks shall be allocated to each debater and each team in accordance with the marking schedule set out below, a copy of which shall be supplied to each adjudicator.

Part Four: Oratory

Preamble

1. Each member Union (and other organisations invited to participate by the Executive) shall be entitled as of right to enter one representative in the Protectus Cup Competition. A member wishing to enter a representative must notify the Convenor on the appropriate entry form and pay the required entry fee by the due date.
2. Contestants' speeches shall be in the form of an oration. The attention of contestants and adjudicators shall be specifically directed to the annex hereof, concerning the nature of an oration.
3. Each oration shall be an original work which shall not have been previous delivered in this contest.
4. The subject of the oration shall be unrestricted.
5. The speaking order of contestants shall be determined by lot.
6. 1. Contestants shall be required to speak for between ten and twelve minutes.
   2. Any contestant who speaks for less than ten minutes shall be disqualified, and the adjudicators shall be instructed to deduct marks for any contestant who speaks for more than twelve minutes.
   3. The timekeeper shall sound a warning bell at ten minutes and two rings of the bell at twelve minutes.
7. The use of notes by contestants shall not be permitted.
8. Interjections shall not be permitted.
9. The contest shall be judged by a panel of three adjudicators. The adjudicators shall retire to consider their decision privately, which shall be determined by majority vote.
10. All adjudicators shall be invited to speak on the contest. The Chairperson of the panel shall announce the winner of the contest, and second and third placings.

Part Five: Impromptu Speaking

Preamble

1. Each member Union (and other organisations invited to participate by the Executive) shall be entitled as of right to enter one representative in the Canterbury Cup Competition. A member wishing to enter a representative must notify the Convenor on the appropriate entry form and pay the required entry fee by the due date.
2. The order of speaking shall be determined by lot.
3. Each contestant shall have the choice of two widely differing subjects to speak on. Subjects shall be chosen by the Convenor in consultation with the officers. Two subjects shall be placed in each envelope which shall then be placed on the Chairperson's table. As each contestant is called, he or she shall select one envelope.
4. From the time of opening an envelope, each contestant shall have one minute in which to prepare his or her speech. He or she may elect to have the subject announced by the Chairperson, but in any event the adjudicators shall be informed of the speaker's subject before the speech commences.
5. Each speaker shall be required to speak for not less than five minutes, nor more than seven minutes. An contestant who speaks for less than five minutes hall be disqualified, and adjudicators shall deduct marks for any speaker exceeding seven minutes.
6. There shall be a warning bell at five minutes, and two bells at seven minutes to signal the expiration of time.
7. Interjections shall be prohibited unless a speaker elects that interjections be permitted for his or her speech. Such election shall be communicated to the Chairperson before the speech commences.
8. The Cup shall be award to the contestant who in the opinion of the adjudicators best presents and develops his or her allotted subject.
9. The contest shall be judged by a panel of three adjudicators. The adjudicators shall retire to consider their decision privately, which shall be determined by majority vote.
10. All adjudicators shall be invited to speak on the contest. The Chairperson of the panel shall announce the winner of the contest, and second and third placings.

Part Six: Championships Winner

Preamble

1. The following scoring system shall be used to determine which member Union is the overall winner of the Championships:
   1. Prepared Debating (Norwood Trophy Competition)
      • Winner 20 points
      • Runner-up 10 points
      • Semi-finalist 5 points
   2. Impromptu Debating, Oratory, Impromptu Speaking
      • Winner 10 points
      • Runner-up 5 points
2. Points shall only be awarded if the team or individual is representing a member Union.

Part Seven: New Zealand Debating Team

Article One: Selection of the Team

1. The New Zealand Debating Team for the next twelve months shall be selected at the Norwood Trophy Competition. The team shall comprise the four best speakers from that competition.
2. The three adjudicators appointed as selectors of the New Zealand Debating Team shall consult with the adjudicators from the preliminary rounds of the Norwood Trophy Competition before making their selection. They shall meet at the end of the second round to prepare a shortlist for selection.
3. The selectors shall determine the four best speakers in the competition. They shall also determine the two next best speakers who shall be named as reserve members of the New Zealand Debating Team.
4. The members and reserve members of the New Zealand Debating Team shall be announced by the Chairperson of the Final of the Norwood Trophy Competition at the conclusion of that Final.

Article Two: Team Captain

1. The selectors shall appoint one of the four members of the New Zealand Debating Team as Team Captain. They shall award the team captaincy to the member considered best able to exercise the functions of the Team Captain.
2. The Team Captain shall be responsible for exercising leadership in respect of the team and its members' for assisting to co-ordinate the team's activities; and for determining, in consultation with the officers, the composition of the team for any debate.

Article Three: Substitute Team Members

Annex One

The Nature Of Oratory

Whilst public speaking is sometimes no more than a coldly intellectual discourse, narrow in its scope, oratory should convince the reasons, stir the emotion and impel constructive action. Its basis is sincerity which of itself must tend to avoid those exaggerations of facts, diction and manner which are not desired.

It is not sufficient for the orator to tell a good story. Anyone possessing a good platform manner and a good delivery can work up his or her material to give an excellent public speech, but an orator must do more than that. Oratory seeks not merely to inform, but to inspire an audience.

Annex Two

The New Zealand Challenge Trophy

Preamble

1. The holder can be challenged to a debate for the trophy at any time during the year, including at the New Zealand Debating Championships.
2. A challenge shall only be valid when made in writing by a member Union to the holder of the trophy and when a copy of such challenge is sent to the Secretary of the Council.
3. The date, time and venue of a challenge debate shall be arranged by mutual agreement, provided that the holder of the trophy shall have priority as to venue.
4. A challenge debate shall be judged by three adjudicators to be appointed by mutual agreement, provided that the Executive or, where more practicable, the officers may appoint the adjudicators if there is no such agreement.
5. The motion and sides for a challenge debate shall be arranged by mutual agreement. Speech times and the rules of debate shall be the same as in the Norwood Trophy Competition.
6. Immediately there is a new holder of the trophy, a member of that member Union shall notify the Council's Secretary of the date upon which the trophy was won and the contact person for the lodging of new challenges.
7. The holder of the trophy must accept a minimum of three challenges during each year calculated from the date from which that holder first won the trophy.
8. Any matter relating to the challenge trophy or a challenge debate may be referred to the Executive or, where more practicable, the officers for a binding decision.