The subject for this years iteration of the Hoyoake Debate was: This house accepts the saying “It's a man's world” as being relevant in the present day led to a spirited contest between St Kentigern College and Pakuranga College.
The St Kentigern team comprising Ayden Singh-Ali, Oliver Walter and Evie Chang had the affirmative and took the stance that while it shouldn’t be a man’s world, unfortunately it still was. Equality had not yet been achieved while men still execised greater political, economic and social power.
The three young women representing Pakuranga College, Chiku Choruwa, Elaine Ye and Maryam Suhib argued that the tide had shifted and that we only had to look at the education statistics to be aware that women in much of the world were better educated and outperforming men in many areas despite historical discriminatory barriers that were still to be lowered.
In a great innovation, two Macleans College students joined with Jeanette Roberts in judging the moot. Haran Thirumeni and Finn Wai-Po provided us with a lucid explanation of why the judges ultimately awarded the debate to St Kentigern. Betty Holyoake was on hand to present the prizes, reminding us all that behind every man is a good woman.