Secondary students defending a winning streak in the 2008 Global Enterprise Challenge

18/06/08

Over the coming weekend, 80 outstanding secondary school students from around New Zealand will be lining up to compete for a place on the team to represent New Zealand in the 2008 Global Enterprise Challenge.

This year Canterbury has 4 students representing the region.

Kendra Morgan, Avonside Girls’ High School
Tony Nelmes, Linwood College
Ben McNab, Rangiora High School
Louis O’Brien, St Thomas of Canterbury

This “pressure-cooker” 24-hour challenge involves students from around the world designing a working model of a product or service to solve a topical challenge.   During the past five years a New Zealand team has won the International Award in 2001, 2002 and 2003, when 15 countries competed, and in 2006 Team New Zealand took out the International Creativity Award. Past Kiwi success can be attributed to participation of talented students from Enterprise New Zealand Trust’s Lion Foundation Young Enterprise Scheme.  

A New Zealand challenge will be announced to the ten teams on Saturday 21 June to prepare them for the rigor of the international challenge the following day. Each team will compete against each other using resources and business mentors from the Auckland Region.  This year’s international challenge will be issued at 1pm on Sunday 22 June to teams around the world via a live link with Macquarie University in Australia. Each team will have a long night with their corporate mentors as they perfect their business plan before presenting it for judging the next morning.  The ultimate winning team chosen will then compete as the New Zealand team against the rest of the world at 1pm on Sunday. The results of this international competition will be announced at 12.30am on Monday morning. 

The New Zealand team will compete against teams from Australia, England, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Scotland, Singapore, USA and Wales.

The event is organised and promoted by Enterprise New Zealand Trust, in partnership with New Zealand Trade and Enterprise and Massey University. This is the seventh year of the international competition and it is attracting more interest and participation locally and internationally. Many other countries are also holding heats to determine who will compete in the international competition. 

Given New Zealand’s successful track record in this exciting event, our students will be “giving their all” to produce a winning entry again this year.

For further information about the Global Enterprise Challenge, please contact: Sandra Ruddock, NZ GEC Coordinator
Enterprise New Zealand Trust,
Phone 021855869
Email: sandra.ruddock@enzt.co.nz