The science and engineering-based competition, organised by the Ministry of Inspiration, was held at the AUT Millennium Centre in Auckland on 1 December. This years competition was based on Climate Change and Flooding in New Zealand.

The Aquaneers – Tāna Barron, Luke Tucker and Sam Molony – were awarded silver at the event. Fellow MBC team the Red Revengers, made up of Luke Bourgeois, Rex Webster, Kymaine King and Ronav Lal, achieved third prize place in the presentation section. All are Year 9 students.

Teams designed and built a remote control vehicle (ROV), or Aquabot, which had to perform underwater challenges such as completing an obstacle course in the shortest possible time and picking up removing and retrieving items, designed to replicate the prevention and mitigation of flooding.  Teams were also required to write a factsheet about their project, a Technical Design Report about how the group had applied the Engineering Design Process as they built and modified their ROV and to make a verbal presentation to the judges. Additionally, teams completed a quiz, based on Climate Change and Adapting to Flooding in New Zealand. It was quite an understaking!!

Very excitingly the MBC Orcaneers have be invited to complete in the International SeaPerch Challenge (American version of Aquabots) in May 2025, to be held at the University of Maryland, USA.

The MBC community are very proud of these boys achievements and wish them every success next year!

The MBC Red Revengers who also competed in the National Competition, gaining 3rd place in the presentation section of the event.