Rotorua students off to tech mecca Silicon Valley

Turahui Payne (left), 13, Maria Davis Tini, 14, and Zyon Hema, 14, head to San Franisco in October for the Te Pokai Ao: Silicon Valley Boot Camp. Photo/Stephen Parker

Watch out Mark Zuckerberg - the future of science and technology are heading your way.

Zyon Hema, 14, and Turahui Payne, 13, from Rotorua Boys' High School, and Rotorua Girls' High School student Maria Davis Tini, 14, will travel to Silicon Valley in October to take part in Te Pokai Ao: Silicon Valley Boot Camp.

The initiative is being run by Te Runanga Ngai Tahu, and all chosen students affiliate to the South Island iwi.

In San Francisco the group of 20 students will attend design workshops and meet leaders from technology companies such as Google and Facebook, however co-ordinator Brett Lee said the companies they would visit are yet to be confirmed.

Mr Lee said they wanted to encourage rangatahi (youth) into STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) subjects.

"Traditionally Maori haven't had a space in those areas. We are looking to explore ways to look at those subjects through a Maori lens and perspective...these [students] are the leaders of the future."

Year 10 student Maria said her goal was to work for Nasa as an engineer.

"I enjoy statistics and physics, and applied to be part of the boot camp to experience what I could do when I'm older."

She said the trio were "honoured and proud" to take part in Te Pokai Ao.

Turahui, who is in Year 9, said he was looking forward to the trip.

"I'd like to experience what has been achieved in the American system."

Over the weekend the 20 students, plus 10 who went on the inaugural trip last year, took part in a noho marae trip at Onuku marae near Akaroa.

Mr Lee said this was to build relationships and rapport amongst the group.

Turahui said the noho marae was interesting, and fun to connect with everyone else going on the trip.

Zyon Hema, 14, said it was a good feeling to be part of the boot camp.

"I'm looking forward to all the technology workshops," the Year 9 student said.

To be accepted into the boot camp each student had to pitch a 30-second video.

Maria said her video was about the cost of education, Zyon's was about how to play any game quicker, and Turahui created an app for businesses and organisations to use to communicate about their unwanted goods so they could be given to homeless people.

There will be another noho marae in September to discuss logistics before they headed over for eight days during the term three school holidays, Mr Lee said.