THS banning fringe extremist political parties in Mixed Member Proportional (MMP) systems
Info Slide
The AFD are a German alt-right political party who are currently the second highest-polling party in Germany. High-ranking members have recently been uncovered having meetings with neo-Nazis. Calls for the AFD to be banned have since become widespread
2
THBT colonial government institutions should not arbitrate on matters of customary indigenous law (e.g. Tikanga)'
3
THR New Zealand's vaccine mandates
Info Slide
In October 2021, the New Zealand government announced that COVID-19 vaccinations would be mandated in certain industries
Semifinals
The motions for this round have not been released.
Round 6
1
THS unconditional measures to include Afghanistan in the international community
Info Slide
Since the Taliban took power in Afghanistan, a number of western states have severed diplomatic ties and imposed sanctions. Economic deprivation has also significantly increased.
2
THBT Tuvalu, the Marshall Islands and Palau should cut diplomatic ties with Taiwan and pivot to China
Info Slide
Five years ago, Taiwan had six allies in the Pacific. Only three remain: Tuvalu, the Marshall Islands and Palau. All cite democratic and cultural values as the reason behind continuing ties with Taiwan.
3
TH, as New Zealand, would join Pillar Two of AUKUS
Info Slide
AUKUS is a trilateral security pact between the US, the UK and Australia. It has two pillars. Pillar One involves the sharing of nuclear submarines. Pillar Two calls for collaboration on advanced capabilities that will involve technology and information sharing.
Round 5
1
THR self-infantilism culture
Info Slide
Self-infantilism culture is the rise of norms and narratives that encourage adults to retreat into pseudo-childhood - e.g. 'Adulting sucks', 'it is valid not to be productive', consuming only nostalgic content
2
THBT self help gurus do more harm than good
Info Slide
Self help gurus are charismatic public figures who tell people how they can improve their lives and self-identify as "gurus". Their teachings often stem from elements of religions such as Hinduism or Buddhism, but their followers are largely based in Western countries
3
THS looking back in anger
Round 4
1
TH, as an Olympic athlete, would choose to participate in the Enhanced Games
Info Slide
The Enhanced Games are a new sporting competition where the taking of performance enhancing drugs is not banned. It is backed by billionaire Peter Thiel and large monetary incentives have been offered to athletes who compete and break records.
2
TH, as a young Samoan player would choose to play Bunnings NPC over an international fixture for Manu Samoa
Info Slide
The national rugby teams of Samoa, Fiji and Tonga play their international fixtures at the same time as New Zealand's provincial rugby competition, the Bunnings Warehouse NPC. Bunnings matches pay a higher per match fee than those international fixtures.
3
THR the shift in artistic sports away from stylistic scoring and instead awarding points on the basis of technical skill
Info Slide
In the early 2000s, both figure skating and gymnastics adopted a code of points system for scoring in response to scandals about subjectivity. The code of points system assigns mathematical objective values to elements of routines.
Round 3
1
THR the glorification of superheroes
Info Slide
“It doesn't matter if the whole country decides that something wrong is right. When the whole world tells you to move, your job is to tell the whole world — No, you move.” - Captain America
2
THO the narrative that the arc of history bends towards justice
Info Slide
"Everything will be alright in the end. If it's not yet alright, it's not yet the end" - The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
3
THP a world where individuals believe circumstances are a result of their own actions rather than the result of chance
Info Slide
In Pokemon: The Movie, Mewtwo states: 'I see now that the circumstances of one's birth are irrelevant - it is what you do that determines who you are.'
Round 2
1
THO the adoption of queer slang, e.g. "slay" and "yas queen", by mainstream culture
2
THS the shaming of individuals as a tactic for social movements to catalyse change (e.g. for not taking environmentally sustainable actions, or violating lockdown/quarantine policies)
3
THR the narrative within the political left that there is no ethical consumption under capitalism
Info Slide
The mantra 'There is no ethical consumption under capitalism' suggests that it is impossible to consume goods in a capitalist society without inherently causing harm or supporting unethical practices
Round 1
1
THBT New Zealand should prioritise a Singaporean model of development instead of a Nordic model
Info Slide
The 'Singaporean' model of economic development is built around lower tax rates and Government policy that supports businesses and foreign direct investment to increase GDP. The 'Nordic' model of development focusses on high taxes and a large welfare state to increase social mobility.
2
TH, as Saudi Arabia, regrets their sporting investment strategy.
Info Slide
Saudi Arabia's public investment fund is an attempt at asset diversifcation by the Saudi state. Recently, it has invested billions of dollars into football, golf, tennis, WWE, and more.
3
THBT states should prioritise bilateral trade deals over large-scale multilateral deals
Info Slide
Multilateral trade deals are those between a large group of countries. They are typically complex and multifaceted due to competing interests. Bilateral trade deals are those between only two countries.