A team from Logan Park High School came out on top in the senior final, arguing against the moot, ''this house believes that the right for privacy is always subservient to national security''.
The team argued the GCSB Bill represented an attack on New Zealand's democratic principles, while an opposing team from Columba College said the Bill was necessary to keep the country safe from terrorism.
Columba College English teacher Anna Togneri, who helped organise the tournament, said it had been a success and high school pupils had flocked to it ''en masse''.
''We have involved schools that have got absolutely no tradition of debating, such as Taieri College and Queen's High School, along with schools that have a long history of debating.''
It was hoped it would become an annual tournament.
She paid tribute to members of Otago University Debating Society who volunteered their time as adjudicators.
A Columba College team won the junior final.
