From Haumoana to Houston: Tech savvy Hawke’s Bay students fundraising for US trip

Havelock North Intermediate's New Zealand Blackbots representatives Nelson Bawden (Year 8), Max Atkins (Y8), Annabelle Rae (Y7) and Isla Atkins (Y8) will be heading to Houston next year. Photo / Supplied

Four tech-savvy students from Havelock North Intermediate have been selected to represent New Zealand at the First Lego (robotics) World Championships in Texas next April.

Twins Max and Isla Atkins, Nelson Bawden and Annabelle Rae - all from Haumoana - scooped up the national title at the First Lego League Championships held in Auckland recently.

The team of four, known as the “Nauwhea Shoguns”, shot to the top of the leaderboard after an impressive 315-point win when their own Lego robot creation completed a coded series of tasks on an activity circuit.

Despite being a late entrant to the 35-team event, the Shoguns wowed the judges not only for their robot’s performance but also for their innovative project design - a real-time energy-use app, used to promote water saving (shower use) in the home.

The team was mentored and coached by the twins’ dad, George Atkins, who, with a background in software development, guided the team over an intensive nine weeks for the event.

Now the students will form the core of the New Zealand Blackbots team to compete in the First Lego League (robotics) section of the First World Festival of Robotics, held in Houston, from April 19-22, 2023.

The 2023 Blackbots will be mentored by experienced First New Zealand coaches Lucknow School principal Brendon White and Mayfair School principal Ricardo Fox.

It will be an Olympic-like celebration of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) for tech-minded youths from around the globe.

Max Atkins, 13, says he’s proud of the team and what they’ve accomplished.

“It’s such a cool opportunity and I feel really honoured to be representing New Zealand. This trip will help us to develop our robot building and coding, and improve our resilience, collaboration, and teamwork skills,” he said.

“It’s going to be awesome competing in the competition,” said Isla Atkins, 13. “It’s going to be really interesting with so many people from around the world meeting up in one place.”

The event is set to cost about NZ$7000 per student to attend and the team is now seeking sponsorship to get their robot out into the global arena.

To donate or sponsor, contact Angela Atkins at geanismaatkins@gmail.com or Brendon White at Lucknow School.