Wednesday, 1 June 2016, 1:20 pm
Press Release: Pacific Islands Trade and Invest
Winners of University of Canterbury 21 Day Pacific Challenge win trip to Niue Island in July
Pacific Islands Trade & Invest, co-sponsors of the University of Canterbury 21 Day Pacific Challenge 2016, are pleased to congratulate the winners of the challenge – Team Edu Kai with Charlotte Mee, Charles Tevi, Kent Stewart, Sima Bagheri and Helena Power.
Team Edu Kai won the grand prize of a trip to Niue on Monday night after competing against the two other group finalists. The final three teams made their presentations on Monday evening before a panel of judges and an enthusiastic audience.
The judges included Pacific Islands Trade & Invest Trade Commissioner Michael Greenslade, the Niue High Commissioner to New Zealand Mrs Tauveve Oai??i??Love Jacobsen and from the University of Canterbury, Pro Vice Chancellor Professor Sonia Mazey, Director Macmillan Brown Centre Professor Steven Ratuva and Glen Baxter of Firefly.
Team Edu Kai won the competition with their three pronged approach to improving the general health of the community working with local village Mataginifale Womenai??i??s Group,and local organic farmers and experts to form the development committee, produce a cookbook of traditional recipes and create the Taumafa (Eating) Kitchen for home and village.
Team members of Edu Kai hail from different degree backgrounds including a PhD in Bio-Engineering to Marketing, Finance, BE (Hons) in Chemical and Process Engineering and Geology.
This is the second year the competition has been run by the University of Canterbury. Project Lead UC Associate Professor Sussie Morrish from the College of Business and Law said in the University of Canterbury media release said, ai???The 21 Day Pacific Challenge continues to be an exciting opportunity for UC students. It is an opportunity like no other in New Zealand.ai???
The competition started in May with 25 students split into 5 groups. Their task was to come up with a business plan in 21 days to help Niue conserve, protect and sustainably manage its food supply with a view to becoming self-sufficient using a $10,000 budget. The top three groups were selected the Friday before the final judging on Mondayevening at the University.
Runners up Team AgriLearn proposed to partner with the Niue Primary School to create a composting project and promote education of sustainable agricultural practices working with the local organic farming association. Team Tanaki Hub planned to restore an abandoned farm to promote traditional farming and fishing practices to Niue youth working with Mutalau village.
The challenge invited all students across the disciplines to enter. Last yearai??i??s winners The Bee Team went to the Philippines to implement a bee keeping project producing organic honey and honey products.