NZYF Tournament

Definitions 

• Competitor means a NZYF member or TeenAg Member competing at regional or national tournament.  
• National final referrers to the NZYF National Tournament held during Grand Final in July.  

Eligibility  

To be eligible a competitor must:  

• Be a financially paid-up New Zealand Young Farmers (NZYF) member or a TeenAg Member. 
• At least 15 years of age and no more than 31 years of age at the date of the tournament. 
• TeenAg members can enter the Clay Target regional Tournament provided they meet all the requirements outlined in this document and the registered gun club hosting the regional tournament agrees to the members’ participation.  
• If you are a NZYF member of a university club you can only enter the tournament in one region per tournament season, and once you are eliminated from the tournament in that region you cannot enter in another region during that current tournament season. 
  
• Please advise NZYF (membership@youngfarmers.co.nz) if you wish to withdraw prior to the start of the tournament.  
  

Competitor Behaviour  

• Competitors will do nothing to bring the Tournament, its sponsors, judges, and organisers into disrepute and will behave in a proper manner befitting such a tournament at all times.  
• Competitors will follow all instructions made by tournament organisers and volunteers.  
  
• Competitors agree to arrive at the venue no later than the time notified. 
• Each competitor is responsible for their own costs incurred in relation to the tournament. No costs incurred by competitors will be payable by NZYF National Office. 
• At all times, the judge’s decision is final, and no correspondence or discussion will be entered into. 
  
• All prizes are to be accepted as awarded and no other product or cash in lieu of the prize shall be negotiated for.

Specific requirements related to each competition

Clay Target:

• All Regional Clay Target tournaments must be held at a registered gun club.  
• A firearms licence is not required at regional tournaments provided the competitor is under the supervision of a registered gun club with gun club representatives present.  
• Each competitor who qualifies for the NZYF Tournament National Final is required to have a current firearms licence to be able to compete in the Final.  
• The first and second-placed qualifiers in each regional final will qualify for the National Final. If first or second-placed qualifiers are unable or ineligible to attend the Final, then the next highest placed competitor from that region will be the substitute.  
• The format for the National competition is to be sent to competitors 3 weeks in advance. A previous year consisted of 10 non scored down the line, 25x Down the Line, & 50x Point Score split in two rounds.

Debating:

• One North Island team and one South Island team will compete in the National Final.
• Regional qualification is set by each Regional Executive.
• Teams do not need to be from the same NZYF club, but do need to be from the same NZYF Region.
• One team member can be replaced at any stage.
• If more than one team member needs to be replaced, the second-place team shall progress to the next stage.
• Failure to notify the opposing team by the required date is considered a default.
• Unopposed regions automatically advance
• That all Debating Moots chosen must be apolitical in line with the objects, purpose, and values of the Society.  

Annual Debating timeline:

• Club and Regional debates held by:  30 April
  
• Inter-Regional debates completed by: 1 June
• National Final teams confirmed with National Office: 1 June

North Island Debating Pathway:

• Heats: Club vs Club level
• Inter Regional heats: Northern vs WaiBop & East Coast vs Taranaki/Manawatu
• Semi-Finals: The winner of each heat progresses to the semi-finals.
• Final: Winners of the semi-finals advance to the National Final held during Grand Final week
  

South Island Debating Pathway:

• Heats: Club vs Club level
• Inter- Regional Heat: The two regions excluding the previous year’s national finalist compete in the heat.
• Semi-Finals: The heat winner competes against the automatically progressed region.
• Final: Winners of the semi-finals advance to the National Final held during Grand Final week

Fencing:

• Entries are for teams of two. Both team members must be from the same NZYF Region. 
• The winning team from each region will represent their respective region at the NZYF National Final. 

Stock Judging:

• The first, second and third placed qualifier in each Regional Final will qualify for the National Final. If first, second or third placed qualifiers are unable to attend the National Final, then the next highest placed competitor from that region will be the substitute.  

Mystery Category:

• This tournament is only for regional competitions; no competitors will advance to the National Final.

Trophies

• Winners who receive a trophy at the National Final must arrange for its return to either National Office or your regional chairperson in a clean state by the 1 May the following year.
  
• Any reasonable cost incurred for engraving will be reimbursed by New Zealand Young Farmers on presentation of a valid tax receipt. Any damage or loss of trophies will be the responsibility of the current trophy holder(s) and the New Zealand Young Farmers National Office reserves the right to invoice the current trophy holder(s) for repair or replacement. 

University Members

• If you are a NZYF member of a university club you can only enter the tournament in one region per tournament season, and once you are eliminated from the tournament in that region you cannot enter in another region during that current tournament season.

Media

• You agree to being photographed and filmed during this tournament and consent to the resulting photographs and film material being used by the Organisers and sponsors for promotional purposes which includes, but is not limited to, publication on websites and social media. 

Wellbeing, Safety & Liability

• The Competitor assumes all risk of personal injury, property loss and damage.
• The Competitor competes at their own risk and is expected to use their best judgement when deciding to attempt a task. NZYF will provide a safe tournament that meets WorkSafe Health and Safety guidelines.
• Competitors are required to disclose any material health condition being a mental or physical condition that could impair their ability or affect other Contestants’ ability to safely participate in the Contest
• Should a competitor develop a material health condition during the Tournament Season, they must advise NZYF Membership Team in writing as soon as practical (membership@youngfarmers.co.nz)
• NZYF can request medical clearance from a Registered Medical Professional to be provided prior to the competitors competing in any Tournament activity.
• NZYF reserves the right to change, postpone or cancel any tournament at any stage.
• Where a Competitor has a material health condition, they are required to:
  a. Obtain professional medical advice from a registered practitioner and provide to NZYF documentation supporting their clear understanding of the risks.
  b. To use common sense and avoid taking unnecessary risks.
• Where the Competitor has obtained medical clearance in relation to a material health issue, NZYF will:
  a. Respect and support the rights of Competitor who wish to continue competing.
  b. Encourage and support competitors to obtain and act on professional medical advice regarding their continued participation in the Contest and when to stop.
  c. The NZYF Membership Team or Tournament Officials may, in its sole discretion, determine, based on a Competitors circumstance /performance, if they are fit to continue with the Tournament. 

Privacy 

• NZYF collects your personal details and will only use them for the purposes set out in these Rules and Conditions. Per the Privacy Act, you are able to access said information upon request by contacting NZYF Membership Team at membership@youngfarmers.co.nz. 

Failure to adhere to these conditions of entry could result in disqualification at the discretion of the NZYF.