Student given nod for national debating team

Student Alister Hughes has been chosen for the New Zealand secondary schools debating team. Photo / Bevan Conley

A Whanganui High School student has been chosen for the National Secondary School Debating team.

Alister Hughes, 17, is the only member of the five-strong team who is not from Auckland or Wellington.

Alister is a non-travelling reserve, meaning that he will only travel to Bali for the world competition if one of the other team members is unable to take part.

He was chosen after competing for Whanganui High School in the central North Island competition, where he was chosen as best speaker and selected for the central North Island team. He then competed in the national Russell McVeagh Schools Debating competition.

The Year 13 student has been involved in debating for the past five years.

"I started debating because I'm interested in ideas. I wanted to go beyond what we learn at school."

Alister said the news that he was in the national team was "unbelieveable".

"I wasn't expecting it at all."

But Stuart Miller, one of Whanganui High School's debating coaches, said he was not surprised at Alister's selection.

"He's an excellent debater," Mr Miller said.

He said the school had gone through a purple patch with debating for the past decade, with a number of students called up for the national team.

"Successes like these encourage other students to become involved in debating," Mr Miller said.