University of Auckland Debating Society

The New Zealand Women and Gender Minorities Debating Championship is a tournament founded to provide a safe and welcoming environment for women and gender minorities to develop their debating skills. Instead of holding trials to form competitive teams, experienced speakers debate alongside novice speakers to encourage development. In 2024 we hosted the tournament, and both the champions and runners-up were from the University of Auckland.

Colloquially known as “Joynt Scroll”, the New Zealand Limited Preparation Debating Championship is New Zealand’s oldest and most prestigious debating tournament. Founded in 1902, Joynt Scroll is attended by the University of Auckland, the University of Waikato, Victoria University of Wellington, University of Canterbury, and University of Otago. The University of Auckland won the Joynt Scroll in 2020, 2021, and 2023, 2024, and 2025. We hope to retain the Scroll at next year’s tournament held over the Easter break in Waikato.

Colloquially known as “Officers Cup”, the New Zealand Impromptu Debating Championship is New Zealand’s second major tournament. Founded in 1986, Officers Cup is attended by the University of Auckland, the University of Waikato, Victoria University of Wellington, University of Canterbury, and University of Otago. The University of Auckland won Officers Cup in 2020, 2021, and 2022, and 2025. We can’t wait for the upcoming Officer’s cup tournament in Christchurch!

Fondly named after an engraving mistake, “Thropy” is a tournament dedicated to giving the novice debaters of the University of Auckland, University of Waikato, and Victoria University of Wellington their first experience at a domestic debating tournament. Thropy is the largest debating tournament in New Zealand. In 2025 we sent 17 teams of novice speakers to compete in the tournament, and three out of the four finalists were from the University of Auckland. Our novices won the tournament in 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023, and 2024. Thropy is a highlight of the debating social calendar, providing attendees with a weekend of great fun and the opportunity to create life long friendships.

The Australasian Women and Gender Minorities Debating Championships is a tournament for women and gender minorities around Australasia, aimed at promoting the development of women and gender minorities in a safe environment. The University of Auckland regularly excels at the tournament. We were semi-finalists in 2018, 2021, 2023 and 2024 and our speakers regularly receive awards for their talent.

The Australasian Intervarsity Debating Championships (Australs) is the second largest tournament in the world, attended by teams from Australia, New Zealand and Asia. The University of Auckland has a strong history at Australs, our members regularly speaking in and judging the final rounds of the tournament. In 2020 and 2021 our teams spoke in the semi-finals of the tournament. In 2024 Grace Baylis served as the Chief Adjudicator. In doing so Grace was the first Māori person to serve on the adjudication core of an international major. In 2025 the tournament will be held in Guangzhou, China with life member Aisha O’Malley serving as Chief Adjudicator as well.

The World Universities’ Debating Championship (WUDC) is the world’s largest and most prestigious debating tournament, and is attended by representatives from the world’s most reputable Universities. The University of Auckland Debating Society has a long history of success at the tournament. We won the tournament in 1982, were Grand-Finalists in 1983, 1994, and 2013, and were Semi-Finalists in 2004, 2016, and 2021. In 2024, life member Daniel Maier-Gant served as the Chief Adjudicator of the tournament. In 2026 the tournament will be held in Sofia, Bulgaria.