Leaders battle it out in debate of the regions

Leaders from Manawatu and Hawke’s Bay are brainstorming ideas in preparation for the Sir Peter Blake Leadership Week debate tomorrow night in Palmerston North.

The regional debate is organised and hosted by Massey University as part of Sir Peter Blake Leadership Week – an annual event showcasing the work being done to develop our nation’s leadership capability – in conjunction with the Sir Peter Blake Trust Board.

The event will see Manawatu leaders Ian McKelvie, the Manawatu District Council mayor, Michael Cummings, the Manawatu Standard editor, and Lance Bickford of Destination Manawatu take on Hawke’s Bay leaders Fenton Wilson, the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council chief executive, Lawrence Yule, the Hastings District Council mayor, and Annie Dundas of Hawke’s Bay Tourism, as they dispute the moot that Manawatu has more to offer our future leaders than Hawke’s Bay.

Mr McKelvie is confident the Manawatu team will have little difficulty winning the debate. “Clearly Hawke’s Bay’s offering of wine and beaches will only sustain a future leader for a very short time," he says, "whereas we offer the opportunity for the total person here, in wonderful scenery, amazing discipline, extraordinary education and exciting work options.”

The debate will be chaired and judged by Massey University Assistant Vice Chancellor (Academic and International) Professor Ingrid Day.

To help encourage the inter-regional rivalry, the evening will begin with a debate between Palmerston North Boys’ High School and Napier Girls’ High School. The schools teams will find out the debate topic – to be themed around "The Engine of the new New Zealand" – an hour before the debate. This limited preparation-style debate showcases the truly talented debaters.

The evening will also feature an address from keynote speaker Sir Peter Blake Leadership Award winner Sarah Trotman, who is a member of the Sir Peter Blake Trust Board member and managing director of Bizzone. The debate is one of many activities taking place around the country in celebration of Sir Peter Blake Leadership week (July 1-8).

The event is free to attend and will be held at the Convention Centre in Palmerston North, with the school’s debate commencing at 6pm.

Please contact Julia Barker j.barker@massey.ac.nz or phone 06 350 5873 to reserve your seat.