“Formed in 1997, the New Zealand Super Eight group of schools incorporates the eight boys’ high schools from their respective provincial cities of the central North Island. The first sporting competitions were sponsored by Canterbury International and commenced in 1998, involving rugby and cricket. Since that time, the Super Eight concept has grown to include not only 10 sports competitions, but also a cultural festival and professional development programmes for management staff and curriculum teachers.”

The Super 8 competition involves an aspect of competitive debating, at a junior and senior level.

In 2016, as the Junior A debating team of Palmerston North Boys High School, William Wood, Andrew Karatea and I came 2nd place in the junior competition.

In 2019, as the same Senior A (Year 13) debating team of Palmerston North Boys High School, William Wood, Andrew Karatea and I placed 1st in the Senior portion of the competition. Winning debates against Tauranga Boys High School, Rotorua Boys High School and, in the finals, Napier Boys High School. This finals debate was a reincarnation of the 2016 junior finals – so we were specifically very happy to have succeeded in this vein.

In recognition of this achievement, we each received Super 8 debating awards.