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Team New Zealand spirits remain high

By Jennifer Hilliker

Despite the news that one of their teammates dropped out of the 40th WorldSkills Competition due to a family tragedy, Team New Zealand is standing strong.

They're using their former teammate's bravery as inspiration to pull together and go for gold.

"The Competitor is no longer able to live her dream to place first at the WorldSkills Competition, but everyone else is going to carry on for her," said New Zealand Team Leader Rick Anderson.

"We've come a long way to compete, and we're not giving up now."

Anderson said the team is happy they are able to turn their attention to the Competition and focus their energies on their work.

"We are from New Zealand. We don't give up," said WorldSkills New Zealand CEO Peter Spencer to applause and cheers at a media conference on Friday.

Team New Zealand was a crowd favourite from the beginning after performing the haka, a traditional Maori dance, at the Opening Ceremony. The dance was made popular by New Zealand's All Blacks rugby club, which performs the dance before each match.

According to daily reports, three of 16 New Zealand Competitors are currently ranked in the top five in their skill category, including Automobile Technology Competitor Marcel Woods.

"My goal is to go home with no regrets and happy with what I've done in Calgary," said Woods during a break from competition Friday afternoon. "It's definitely been harder than I expected but I'm still doing my best and going for gold."

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