Parliamentary Shield
The Premier Grade
The Premier Grade is an adult debating grade, open to teams in the Wellington region. It is aimed at Wellington’s top debaters. It runs (roughly) from March to September, in a round-robin format, followed by semi-finals and the Grand Final. The winning team receives the Parliamentary Shield. To enter the grade for 2009, please email the WSU President.
The Parliamentary Shield was presented in 1909 by the Wellington Members of Parliament to be the trophy for Interclub debating and was soon regarded as the country’s premier trophy. In the early 1950s the Wellington MPs paid to have the Shield enlarged to accommodate the increasing number of winning name plates.
In 1974 when the Premier Grade was created the Parliamentary Shield, being the premier debating trophy, became the Trophy for the Premier Grade. In 1976 the Shield was again enlarged to hold the ever-increasing number of plaques, this time paid for by the Government and Opposition Whips’ Funds.
In the Final debate each year for the Parliamentary Shield, the losing or runner-up team receives the Stoneham Cup presented by A Stoneham and Co.
From 1976 the venue for the Final Debate of the Parliamentary Shield Contest has been the Legislative Council Chamber in Parliament Buildings.
Click here to see the past winners of the Parliamentary Shield.
Click here to see the past winners of the Stoneham Cup.