Media Release

Latest News | Archives

Sweet ideas from Tararua College wins IPENZ Neighbourhood Engineers Award
Tuesday, 1 March 2005

It was thumbs up for the Year 11 students at Tararua College, who won the IPENZ Neighbourhood Engineers Award for their chocolate treats which they designed, made and packaged on behalf of their school’s Board of Trustees.

The prize of $2,000 prize and individual certificates was presented by Bob Hodgson, IPENZ fellow and member of the Standards and Accreditation Committee, and Angela Christie, Futureintech Director.

Tararua College’s Year 11 food technology class created a variety of chocolate designs to be considered by the Tararua College Board of Trustees who requested an informal chocolate to give to students who had done well in various school activities. Emma Thomasen’s design – a thumbs up sign - met the Board’ s requirements and has been put into production at the local chocolate factory.

Carol Pound Food technologist, the neighbourhood consulting engineer, and Diana Eagle, the school’s food technology teacher, worked with the class from the first inception of the idea right through to producing the chocolate in conjunction with local business “Sweet Foods”.

The students involved were: Ngaio Braddick, Ashlea Carter, Grant Dickon, Samantha Eagle, Kate Ferry, Zoe Gardner, Emma Garret, Kate Horne, Hauturu McKinnon, Tyla Riley, Emma Thomasen.

“This is a win-win situation for all, as it was a real situation that has given the students higher NCEA grades for their work efforts in this project,” said Diana Eagle.

IPENZ Neighbourhood Engineers Award
Teachers, students and engineers work together to respond to an identified need or opportunity in their school or local community. The award is divided into three categories: Years 1-4, 4-8, 9-13. There are substantial cash prizes, including $2,000 for category winners. All participants receive IPENZ certificates of participation including the pupils who worked on other entries.

The winners of this year’s IPENZ Neighbourhood Engineers Award are:
Y 1-4 St Johns Hill School - Wanganui
Y 5-8 Blockhouse Bay School - Auckland
Y 9-13 Tararua College – Pahiatua (winners from 2003 also)

Merit

Merit Prize: Tararua College – The school cafeteria food safety programme – by Tiare Sharpe Year 13

Merit prize abstract - Pahiatua School
Picking up use of drop-off zone
Consulting has been the game for Room 10 students at Pahiatua School running Operation Drive-By. Traffic engineer Eliza Sutton from Lower Hutt, and Wairarapa Engineer, George Butcher have been lending their expertise to guide the students and studying the school drop off zone and the major safety issues identified.

More IPENZ Neighbourhood Engineer stories:
A house fit for a snail wins IPENZ award

Blockhouse Bay Primary kids win IPENZ award by designing their own playground

For more information contact:

Diana Eagle,
Tarura College food technology lecturer
Phone: O6 376 8344 or at home 063758356
Email: deagle@tararua college.school.nz

Megan Rodden
IPENZ Neighbourhood Engineers Award administrator
04 473 2021
mrodden@ipenz.org.nz

Back to News and Views