School project turns to gold

Richard Malcolm (left) and Sebastian Bucher have big hopes for their weeder. Picture / Amos Chapple

Two Taupo schoolboys have been given a $20,000 Government grant to market a weeding tool that began as a school project.

Richard Malcolm and Sebastian Bucher, both aged 14, invented GrubIt in 2003 for a school science project.

The metal tool straps round the ankle so that stubborn paddock invaders, such as flatweeds and thistles, can be grubbed out with a kick of the heel.

Having won awards at their school and the Bay of Plenty regional science fair in 2003, the boys headed to Fieldays, the Southern Hemisphere's largest agricultural trade show.

They now have a waiting list of more than 100 customers.

A visit to the Taupo business development agency Smartbusiness for advice led to an application for Government support from New Zealand Trade and Enterprise.

And in June they were given a $20,000 enterprise development grant to develop and sell GrubIt nationwide.

Richard was stunned when he heard about the grant.

"I couldn't believe it to start with," he said. "It's a pretty amazing thing to get."

As part of the deal the boys, supported by their families, must match the grant dollar for dollar.

Richard said back-breaking weeding inspired the winning idea.

"We were sick of having to grub thistles the conventional way with a long-handled grubber.

"And because a lot of farmers just use their heel anyway to kick the thistle out, we thought we'd make it easier by putting a tool on the back."

Like all great inventions, its success lies in its simplicity.

"Everyone just says, 'Why didn't I think of that?' "

The budding Richard Bransons plan to start selling GrubIt via mail-order on their website (www.grubit.co.nz) within three months.