TechWeek

TechWeek

What pathways does technology open up for the youth? How does technology integrate with daily life? What problems can be solved using technology?

These questions ponder the basis of technology in our fast-changing world and the role that technology plays in the growth of society. Yet, these transformative questions are only some of the many that were answered by presenters at Taupo’s annual TechWeek.

On the 25th of May, 5 students from the group ‘Te Ara Tohu Pūmanawa Taiohi’, including JooHui Lee from RSHS, attended a TechWeek presentation in Taupo, invited by Bodhi Vette and Johnny MacAvoy from PresentMe. Te Ara Tohu Pūmanawa Taiohi is the Waikato Youth Secondary Tertiary Advisory Group for the Ministry of Education, with the purpose of providing youth voices and perspectives on the education system of New Zealand. The 2021 group has had one meeting so far, and has another next week.

The conference took place at Suncourt, across from Lake Taupo. Attracting the attention of like-minded individuals, this TechWeek initiative allowed the students to interact with the technology industry within New Zealand, gaining insight as to how it integrates with our communities. Presenters at the conference were representatives of Salt + Tonic, Zealandia Honey, Road Ninja, Sonderpods, and PresentMe. A common theme could be found among all these diverse projects — technology was used to deliver a solution for a recognised problem in the community. These problems were diverse just like the projects, and included issues such as accessibility, the sense of disconnection for people in COVID-19 isolation, the inefficiency of manual processes, the lack of transparency in food production, and a gap for employment in a certain industry.

The event allowed the students to network with leading experts in the technology field, who were enthusiastic in offering insight and advice. Lunch even provided them with a further opportunity to connect with both attendees and presenters.