De La Salle College trio defy stereotypes with historic debate win

For three De La Salle College students, debate has been more than just a competition. It has become a platform for growth, self-expression, and challenging stereotypes about Pacific youth.

Sione Mafuahingano, Cadell Armstrong, and Christian Fa’avae have been involved in debating since Year Nine.

Drawing on their Pacific and Māori heritage, the trio - representing De La Salle - recently achieved a remarkable victory in the Counties Manukau Regional Schools’ Debating Championship.

Last week's win underscores the importance of young Pacific voices in global discussions, particularly in addressing Pacific-China relations.

“I think that makes us the first school to be three-time champions here,” Armstrong says.

He has been recognised for his speaking abilities. In 2023, he represented the Counties Manukau regional team at the New Zealand Schools’ Debating Championship in Wellington.

“Debating's changed my life because growing up, I was always a smart mouth to everyone, especially towards my family. But I think it's changed my life because it's given me an outlet.

“I like it. It lets me travel - trips to Wellington, see places and doing stuff that I might have not been able to do. It's a good experience to meet people as well. You get to meet all these fancy people, like politicians.”

The South Auckland school triumphed over five other teams in the championship. During the final debate, the De La Salle team argued the motion that a South Pacific nation should allow China to establish a military base within its borders.

The trio during the final of the Counties Manukau Regional Debating Championships held at De La Salle College last week. Photo/DLS Debating Team

Advocating for this position, the trio built a case based on economic support and political leverage.

“One of the first points that we ran was that, in return for China building this military base, these South Pacific islands would receive economic support from China,” Mafuahingano says.

Armstrong adds that their second main argument focused on bargaining power.

“We explained how the influence of China in the global sphere of the South Pacific gives us more ability to negotiate with other nations in terms of stuff like trade, infrastructure and negotiations.”

For the De La Salle team, this debate held deep personal significance. As young Pacific and Māori men, they drew on their cultural understanding of the geopolitical landscape in the Pacific to frame their arguments.

Jacinda Ardern paid the De La Salle debating team a visit in 2023. Photo/DLS Debates

A legacy of success

De La Salle’s victory makes them the first school to secure the Counties Manukau title three times since entering the competition in 2020.

The tournament format included five schools: Alfriston College, Ormiston Senior College, and Papatoetoe High. De La Salle also fielded multiple teams, with its Year 11 squad placing third overall.

More than just an extracurricular activity

For Fa’avae, debating has transformed his understanding of his identity and helped him overcome stereotypes. He recalls participating in a debate on race relations, which made him appreciate the importance of preserving his Sāmoan language.

“Everyone's standard is to play rugby, sports, the Polynesian stuff. But I feel like debating has opened up doors for myself, to be myself and academically.

“I'm not just a person of just any sports and that I can do way more than what I'm stereotyped to.”

Shortly after being established in 2020, De La Salle College's debating team was paid a visit by Vaovasamanaia Winston Peters. Photo/X/Winston Peters

Mafuahingano sees debating as a way to challenge assumptions about Pacific students.

“People assume that if you’re from De La Salle, you’re just here for rugby. But debating has shown us we can be more than that. We can be voices for our community.”

A message for future debaters

Having participated in debating since Year Nine, the trio hopes to inspire other young people to participate.

“It's not just for kids who are smart. It's for anyone. If you look at our debating group, we have boys that come from different backgrounds,” Armstrong says.

“They're not just the boys that are good academically, we have rugby boys, boys that are naughty, off the streets and that. Debating is for everyone.”

Watch Armstrong, Fa'avae, and Mafuahingano's full interview below.

Confidence is key

“A lot of the people that are in debates, they don't have these experiences. They don't come from the backgrounds we come from, the school we went against at the Counties Manukau championship; they had fancy laptops and all these cool notebooks and pens.

“I had a refill piece of paper I took from Mr Wendt, but seeing that I wouldn't see it as a disadvantage, I see it as it gives us character.

"I think it gives us motivation, especially being from cultures that are underrepresented in these spaces.

“It gives us motivation to want to do better and do well and represent our culture and our families. That's how I see it.”