William Paris and Tim McIlhone represented Southland at the National Secondary Schools’ Debating Championships in Wellington, delivering the region’s strongest performance to date.

From May 23rd to 26th, Southland Boys’ High School students William Paris and Tim McIlhone travelled to Wellington to represent the Southland region at the National Secondary Schools’ Debating Championships.

As members of the Southland Regional Team, William and Tim competed against the top secondary school debaters from across the country. The tournament also gave the team the opportunity to visit some of New Zealand’s most notable landmarks, including Parliament (the Beehive), adding to the experience both on and off the debating floor.

The 2025 championship proved to be historic for Southland, marking the region’s most successful showing at the event to date. The team narrowly missed out on a place in the semi-finals, to a group that would go on to reach the national final.

One of the standout moments for the team came in the fifth round, where they successfully negated a motion proposing the implementation of a land tax. Their argument centred on the policy’s unintended consequence of accelerating environmentally harmful farm-to-forestry conversions, a stance that impressed adjudicators and highlighted their ability to tackle complex, topical issues under pressure.

For William and Tim, the tournament was not only a competitive milestone but also a valuable learning experience. Their performance demonstrated sharp reasoning, clear communication, and strong teamwork - qualities that will serve them well in the upcoming Southland Debating Competitions.

Their efforts at the national level are a credit to the school and the region, and set a strong foundation for the continued growth of debating in Southland.