An Indian-origin student of New Zealand's Victoria University was part of a team that won a debating competition in which 100-odd varsities take part every year.

Udayan Mukherjee was part of the three-member team of Victoria University which became the first New Zealand university to win "Australs", the Australasian University Debating Championship, in the last 12 years.

Held in Auckland July 7, it is considered one of the top debating competitions in the world, Australs said on its website. Victoria won its fourth ever Australs title and its first since 1998.