Northland Education For Enterprise on the international stage again

21 June , 2006

EDUCATION : MEDIA RELEASES 2006

This year is the fifth anniversary of the first Global Enterprise Challenge, formerly known as the Enterprise Olympics. NASA astronaut Bill McArthur announced the 2006 Global Enterprise Challenge at 10pm New Zealand time on Tuesday.

"Climate change remains the most serious challenge facing our planet today, and although countries commit to abstract goals it is often city mayors who make a commitment to action"

The challenge was to prepare an action plan for your city or municipality that will significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and strengthen the economy over the next ten years.

Within 24 hours the teams of eight were asked to submit via e-mail a two page mini-business plan, and make a three minute presentation

Northland fielded six students into the New Zealand leg of the international Global Enterprise Challenge held at the Massey University campus in Albany this week.

The students were drawn from two of Northland's leading Education For Enterprise schools, Jared Gravatt, Danielle Duffield and Brooke Duffield from Bream Bay College, and Steven Ruddell, James Burton and Reuben Otto from Springbank School. Jared and Steven were part of Team New Zealand , the winning team that presented to the rest of the world and the international judges.

Two awards were given internationally. Wales received the overall award and Team New Zealand received the award for Innovation and Outstanding Creativity. The Team developed a Filter to remove green house gas emissions from a car exhaust. It was commented by one of the international challenge judges in Scotland that
“Team New Zealand 's product was the biggest innovation in solving the challenge since the invention of the internal catalytic converter.”

During the presentation on Wednesday morning James Burton of Springbank School was awarded a Neville Jordan Scholarship to attend the “New Zealand Business Hall of Fame Event” sponsored by the NBR and the Auckland Chamber of Commerce in Association with Enterprise New Trust where six new laureates will be inducted.

The students from Northland shared an amazing experience over the two days.

The following are quotes from some of the students.

Brooke Duffield: “Global Enterprise Challenge was an incredible experience, in which we all learnt so much and had so much fun getting involved and making it all happen.

Jared Gravatt: “A once in a life time opportunity”

Steven Ruddell “It was a really great event, and the level of products and presentations was extremely high .”

Danielle Duffield: “It was such an awesome experience, meeting and working with teenagers from all across the country to try and solve an international problem.”