Teams of local business celebrities and professionals, leaders and politicians will be squaring off against their junior equivalents in Tauranga's Great Debate in the Bay on May 13.

The fight for the Rotary Cup will involve three teams of students facing off against three teams of adults – a political team, celebrity team and a local business team - at a charity event held at Classic Flyers.

'The Rotary club of Tauranga Te Papa with the NZ Schools Debating Council Bay of Plenty division have partnered to rebuild and reenergise school debating within the Bays colleges which significantly reduced due to the Covid impact on extracurricular educational activities,” says organiser Jerry Cowper.

The BOP Regional Schools Debate final is being held on Sunday March 26.

Strengthening debate teams

'The Great Debate is another step on the road to help strengthen our Bay school teams and help prepare them for their regional finals in Wellington later in the month.”

Jerry says the evening of fun and scholarly entertainment is an opportunity to watch MMP in action with the ‘Sam, Cam and Jan' team of Tauranga MP Sam Uffindell, List MP Jan Tinetti and political candidate Cameron Luxton combining forces to duke it out against a team of college students.

The two other adult teams are made up of Katherine Sandford – Ubco Bikes, Cecilia Burgess – Cooney Lees Morgan, Tauranga District Court Judge Paul Geoghegan, BOPRC chair Doug Leeder, GP and chief medical officer Dr Luke Bradford and real estate auctioneer Will Johnston.

Promoting debate amongst youth

Proceeds from the night go towards the promotion of debating amongst our youth along with other quality Rotary charitable endeavours such as road safety education for our Year 12's and the Spirit of NZ.

Finger food will be provided and a welcome drink on arrival, with a cash bar available.

The Great Debate in the Bay will be held at Classic Flyers, 5pm, Saturday May 13. Tickets available on Eventfinda or email: enquire.youthdevelopmentbop@gmail.com