A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.
Opinion
Last Friday and Saturday Debbie Rowlands and I judged the Chanel Shield interschool debates hosted this year by Campion College. I've always enjoyed judging the local high school debates and speeches because I get to see fresh ideas from young talented public speakers. This year was no exception.
I love
seeing how the young debaters, with just 30 minutes preparation time, interpret the moot, address the pros and cons, apply their own values, challenge ideas, promote their position and attack the other team's stance with respect and mana.
They play the ball not the player.
This week I have had reason to pause and reflect on how the young students I saw last week conducted themselves and how some candidates' supporters are choosing to conduct themselves with the upcoming local body election.
I believe we can all learn a lesson from the students at Campion College and over the next seven weeks strive to treat everybody with respect and mana when debating the important issues that affect our community.
