The Wellington Speaking Union organises the Senior Premier A Grade, the top debating grade within the Intercollegiate debating competition. The winning school receives the John F Henning Cup, donated in 1961 by the then United States Ambassador to New Zealand. The best speaker in the Grand Final is presented with the Suffrage Cup, donated by the Hutt Valley branch of the National Council of Women of New Zealand.

This year the students debated the following moot: This House believes that social and political movement should utilise religious rhetoric in forwarding their cause (eg using religious texts, seeking support from religious leaders, etc.). This year’s finalists were Wellington College (affirming) and Scots College (negating).

Scots College debate team

After a vigorous debate, the judges’ decision awarded the Henning Cup to Scots College and the Suffrage Cup to their third speaker Sebastian Heine-Sheldrake.

NCWNZ's Beryl Anderson presenting the Suffrage Cup to Sebastian Heine-Sheldrake.

To read more articles from The Circular (September-October 2025) issue 654, click on the tag below.