Joynt Scroll

Joynt Scroll is one of three university debating tournaments in New Zealand sanctioned by the New Zealand Universities' Debating Council, which has been competed for by New Zealand universities since 1902.

The "Joynt Scroll" itself is a large wooden shield, donated by J.W Joynt, a Professor at Victoria University of Wellington. It is the most prestigious debating tournament in New Zealand. The tournament's more formal name is the New Zealand Universities Prepared Debating Championships. It is held in the mid-trimester break in the second trimester of the New Zealand university year, usually around late August/early September.

Format of debating

Probably unique in the debating world, Joynt Scroll is a fully prepared, three-on-three debating tournament. There are five preliminary rounds, semi-finals, and a grand final, with the topic and for each team for each round released at least four weeks in advance of the tournament.

Speeches are ten minutes long, with replies of five minutes. Points of information are permitted.

Each university can enter four teams, so the tournament usually features between 16 and 20 teams.

Results from past championships

2008 (hosts: University of Canterbury)

* Winners: Victoria University of Wellington (Kathy Errington, Jane Pring & Sebastian Templeton)
* Runners up: Victoria University of Wellington (Ella Edginton, Yogesh Patel & Kathy Scott-Dowell)
* Best Speaker: Kathy Scott Dowell ( Victoria University of Wellington)
* Most Promising Speaker: Jenna Raeburn ( Victoria University of Wellington)
* Best Adjudicator: Gareth Richards ( Victoria University of Wellington)

2007 (hosts: Victoria University of Wellington)

* Winners: Victoria University of Wellington (Christopher Bishop, Joe Connell, & Stephen Whittington)
* Runners-up: University of Otago (Jesse Wall, Marcelo Rodriguez-Ferrere & Renee Heal)
* Best Speaker: Joe Connell ( Victoria University of Wellington)
* Most Promising Speaker: Katherine Errington ( Victoria University of Wellington)
* Best Adjudicator: Laura Fraser (University of Otago)

2006 (hosts: University of Auckland)

* Winners: Victoria University of Wellington (Hugh McCaffrey, Polly Higbee & Lewis Holden)
* Runners-up: University of Otago (Dan Connor, Jesse Wall & Laura Fraser)
* Best Speaker: Polly Higbee ( Victoria University of Wellington)
* Most Promising Speaker: David Dewar (University of Canterbury)
* Best Adjudicator: Joe Connell ( Victoria University of Wellington)

2005 (hosts: University of Otago)

* Winners: University of Auckland (Paul Paterson, Jonathan Orpin & Jordan Ward)
* Runners-up: University of Otago (Victoria Olds, Renee Heal & Laura Fraser)
* Best Speaker: Jonathan Orpin (University of Auckland)
* Most Promising Speaker: Clodagh O'Connor-McKenna ( Victoria University of Wellington)
* Best Adjudicator: Christopher Bishop ( Victoria University of Wellington)

2004 (hosts: Massey University)

* Winners: University of Otago (Jesse Wall, Marcelo Rodriguez-Ferrere & Melanie Bunce)
* Runners-up: Victoria University of Wellington (Christopher Bishop, Joe Connell & Gareth Richards)
* Best Speaker: Christopher Bishop ( Victoria University of Wellington)
* Most Promising Speaker: Jordan Ward (University of Auckland)
* Best Adjudicator: Jonathan Orpin (University of Auckland)

2003 (hosts: University of Canterbury)

* Winners: Victoria University of Wellington (Christopher Bishop, Ranald Clouston & Sayeqa Islam)
* Runners-up: University of Otago (Kate Wevers, Holly Walker & Matt Crawford)
* Best Speaker: Jesse Wilson (University of Auckland)
* Most Promising Speaker: Christopher Bishop ( Victoria University of Wellington)
* Best Adjudicator: Sarah Barnett ( Victoria University of Wellington)

2002 (hosts: Victoria University of Wellington)

* Winners: Victoria University of Wellington (Kevin Moar, Duncan Small & Nicola Willis)
* Runners-up: University of Auckland (Jesse Wilson, Isaac Hikaka & ?)
* Best Speaker: Jonathan Orpin (University of Auckland)
* Most Promising Speaker: Kate Wevers (University of Otago)
* Best Adjudicator: ?