NZ makes Grand Final of World Debating Champs

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NZ makes Grand Final of World Debating Champs

The Russell McVeagh New Zealand Schools' Debating Team has made the Grand Final of the World Schools' Debating Championships for the second year in a row.

New Zealand progressed to the Grand Final after wins against Canada in the quarter-finals, and Singapore in the semi-finals.

New Zealand will debate England in the Grand Final in a replay of the 2008 World Champs Final, won by England in a 5-4 decision

Christopher Bishop of the NZ Schools Debating Council says that the New Zealand team will be out for revenge. "To lose so narrowly in 2008 was really disappointing. I know the team will be looking to complete some unfinished business with the English."

The topic for the Grand Final is "That all illegal immigrants should receive an amnesty". New Zealand will propose the motion.

The Grand Final starts at 5pm (Athens time) on Wednesday, which is 4am in the morning on Thursday (NZ time). The result is expected by about 7am NZ time.

The top ten speakers of the tournament will also be announced after the final. At the 2008 Championships, New Zealand had the top three speakers of the tournament.

The five person Russell McVeagh New Zealand Schools' Debating Team was selected at the national finals of the Russell McVeagh New Zealand Schools' Debating Championships held in May 2008. The team comprises Maria English (Captain, Samuel Marsden Collegiate), Holly Jenkins (Sacred Heart College), Jennifer Savage (Wanganui Collegiate), Tom Chen (Hillcrest High School) and Ben Kornfeld (King's College).

The team is being coached by Julia Fetherston (an Australian law student and champion student debater) and Kevin Moar (a policy analyst at the Ministry of Health).

The World Schools' Debating Championships, a global competition for high school debaters, has been held each year since 1988. This year's tournament involves 39 teams, including England, Wales, Scotland, India, Pakistan, the USA, South Africa, South Korea, and Japan. New Zealand has won the tournament three times since 1988 (in 1991, 1992, and 1995), were runners-up in 2008, and hosted the competition in 1994.

Topics debated at this year's Championships include "That public services should be run by private companies", and "That we should encourage the expansion of civilian nuclear energy."

ENDS