For immediate release
New Zealand knocked out of World Debating Champs
The Russell McVeagh New Zealand Schools' Debating Team has been knocked out of the 2010 World Schools' Debating
Championships after losing in the quarter-finals to Canada.
New Zealand is the defending champion after winning the title in Athens a year ago.
In the quarter-final New Zealand opposed the motion "That we should pay compensation for injustices committed by
previous generations".
Christopher Bishop of the New Zealand Schools' Debating Council said the debate was incredibly close.
"New Zealand argued with passion and verve that citizens today are not morally responsible for the actions of those who
committed atrocities in the past. But Canada were just as persuasive arguing that injustices committed in the past had
consequences today that required redress", he said.
"The team should be very proud of how they have performed - finishing in the top eight out of 57 teams is a great
effort".
The Russell McVeagh New Zealand Team is captained by Maria English (Samuel Marsden Collegiate School) and also comprises
Jasmin Moran (Chilton St James School), Josh Baxter (Auckland Grammar School), Nick Cross (Scots College) and Aria
Newfield (St Cuthbert’s College).
The team is coached by Clodagh O’Connor-McKenna, a champion New Zealand university debater.
The World Schools' Debating Championships, a global competition for high school debaters, has been held each year since
1988. This year's tournament involves 57 teams, including England, Scotland, India, Pakistan, the USA, South Africa,
South Korea, and Japan. New Zealand has won the tournament four times since 1988 (in 1991, 1992, 1995 and 2009), were
runners-up in 2008, and hosted the competition in 1994.
This year's Grand Final is between England and Canada.
ends