The team from left to right: Robin Kunwar, E Wen Wong, Piper Pengelly, and Thomas James

Burnside High School entered a team in the Auckland University’s National Schools’ Case Competition. In the preliminary rounds they were given case studies of sunset or failing businesses and needed to design strategies which would turn them around. The first was NZ Post. The second round involved Toys R Us, a very large US firm which failed. They came up with innovative marketing, distribution and finance strategies which got them into the finals in Auckland. In the finals, they had just three hours to come up with a marketing plan for Onzo, New Zealand’s first and largest bike-sharing company.

Given that this was Burnside’s first entry into this competition, and our Year 12 students competed against Year 13’s from over 80 schools from around the country, to be second in the country was a remarkable achievement. They will be a formidable team next year!