Sarah McMillan/cvnznews.com
Two Bay of Plenty students have been selected to represent New Zealand at the World Schools’ Debating Championships in Kenya this July — marking the region’s most successful year in its debating history.
Tauranga Boys’ College student Oliver Larsen and Tauranga Girls’ College student Pearl Vahey Bourne were both named to the Aotearoa New Zealand Schools’ Debating Team following standout performances at the national championships in Wellington.
The Cooney Lees Morgan Bay of Plenty Schools’ Debating Team — Larsen, Vahey Bourne, and Pāpāmoa College’s Layla Clarke — won six of their seven preliminary debates, topping all regions before falling to Otago in a high‑quality semi-final. Their topics ranged from performance‑based pay to New Zealand’s cultural norms.
This year’s results set multiple regional firsts. Larsen becomes the first Bay of Plenty student ever appointed Captain of the national team, capping four years of rapid rise from reserve speaker to the region’s most decorated debater. Vahey Bourne becomes the first female student from the Bay selected for the national team. Clarke was recognised as one of only three Most Promising Speakers nationwide.
Coach Melissa Connolly, who has led the team since 2022, says the achievements reflect years of discipline and commitment. “They have worked so hard to get here, and it has been great to see that hard work pay off.”
Larsen, Vahey Bourne, and teammates from Auckland, Wellington, and Otago will now begin preparations for the global tournament in Nairobi. “I’m honoured to represent New Zealand,” Vahey Bourne said. Larsen added that ending his final school year as national captain “is something I’m incredibly grateful for.”
Former Bay of Plenty debater Luca Ririnui also made history, chairing the Grand Final at Parliament — a role typically reserved for the country’s top adjudicators.
