New Zealand's unbeaten school debating team has come out on top after the first eight preliminary rounds of the World Schools' Debating Championships in Turkey.
The first-placed team will now go up against Canada in the knock-out phase of the competition on Sunday night.
If New Zealand wins that debate they will go up against either Peru or Ireland in the quarter-finals the following day.
NZ Schools Debating Council president Desley Horton said the team had had a competitive draw in the preliminary rounds, but were pleased with their form heading into the knock-out phase.
New Zealand has won the world championships four times since 1988 and reached the quarter-finals last year.
