How Point of Order! came to be

A robust and respectful contest of ideas is crucial for all modern democracies - especially at a time when intolerance, division, and the proliferation of misinformation is on the rise.

What most people see of politics is a divisive and toxic environment. Young people are eager to engage in these discussions, but lack the space, opportunities and incentive to do so. Point of Order! aims to change that.

We know that hearing new points of view is a powerful opportunity to expand your own thinking and create a more open and tolerant society, but with the growth of social media that is becoming increasingly rare. Point of Order! is a quarterly event series which creates a space for young people to openly debate policy, explore the virtues of all sides of an argument and still walk out the door as mates.

This series has been founded by Holly Bennett (Te Arawa, Ngāti Whakaue, Ngāti Pikiao) Kaitūhono Ariki of Awhi, and Hamish Smith, Chief Marketing Officer of Lumo. Holly and Hamish wanted to bring high-quality, informative and entertaining political events to young professionals in Tāmaki Makaurau.

The entire team behind Point of Order! are millennials, who are committed to the kaupapa of creating a space for young people to engage with those we’ve entrusted to represent our interests to both challenge and be challenged. All of our events are free to attend, thanks to our amazing sponsors who support our kaupapa.

We’re always keen to hear from young professionals about the things they care about most - so if you’ve got an idea for a topic you’d like us to explore at a future debate, drop us a line and we’ll add it to the list!