Oturu team creates a buzz at awards

When it comes to solving problems, Northland schoolchildren have again shown they're up there with the best in the world, with more success at the International Future Problem Solving World Finals.
Held in Wisconsin, United States, yesterday, Oturu Primary School, 5km northeast of Kaitaia, won second place in the Junior Education Division, while Kerikeri High School student Hamish Hall was second in the Junior Individual Division.
Other New Zealand teams in the championships picked up three first places, another second place and three thirds. Oturu pupils Ayvran Mackie, Anna-Leah Cassidy-Taylor, Manaaki Jakobs and Teina Snowden - the Bee-friendly Problem Solvers - won the New Zealand junior title in Auckland, beating Kerikeri Primary School. The Oturu team's project was on saving honey bees, promoting the school and the environmental focus that had been cultivated there, with samples of the school's honey, olive oil and kawakawa balm.
The team is now heading to Washington DC to stay in the New Zealand Embassy's house with Ambassador Mike Moore, before returning to school next week.
Hamish Hall, 11, became the first New Zealander to win a place in the individual community problem solving section of the world finals, thanks to his programme for curing arachnophobia. There were several new countries competing this year, so the Northland results are even more remarkable, NZ Community Problem Solving Co-ordinator Deb Green said.
Northland schools have won sections in the world finals in previous years.