High school students travelled from around Aotearoa, representing Burnside, Hagley College, Rangiora High School, Wakatipu, Logan Park High School, Alfriston College, Mount Albert Grammar School, Liston College and Saint Dominics College.

For the past five years, The Kind Foundation has offered Grapple as an opportunity for young people to immerse themselves in technology, engineering and creative problem-solving. The challenge reflects the Foundation’s commitment to helping rangatahi build confidence, discover their strengths and make meaningful connections through experiences that extend beyond the classroom.

The students were placed in a fictional future where a catalytic, fuel-ingesting microbe had contaminated the world’s oil and gas supplies. Named “Micah the Microbe”, it had broken down 95 per cent of available hydrocarbon molecules, leaving only five years before natural sources became effectively unavailable.

Although the scenario was fictional, it raised real and difficult questions. Hydrocarbons are used not only as fuel but also in products ranging from clothing, packaging and cosmetics to essential medicines. Participants were asked to consider how people could sustain, or even improve, their quality of life if those resources became severely limited.

Working in teams of three, five and six, the students focused on one of three areas: transport, daily life or health. Throughout the week, the 4C Centre gave them access to technology, practical resources, mentors and connections with expertise in the wider community as they researched, tested and refined their ideas.

The Centre’s staff team guided the students through a holistic week that balanced technical learning and project development with social interaction and opportunities to build relationships within the group. This supportive environment helped participants collaborate across teams, grow in confidence and sustain the energy needed to take their ideas from initial research through to their final presentations.

The transport team evaluated local and long-distance aviation and explored alternatives for moving passengers and freight. The daily life team investigated whether energy released as the fictional microbe broke down hydrocarbons could be captured and used to extend the availability of energy. The health team developed a concept for transforming single-use polypropylene medical waste into raw materials used to produce essential medicines.

Throughout the week, members of the judging panel visited the 4C Centre to observe the teams in action and see how their ideas were developing. At the end of the week, each team showcased its final concept to the panel. The concepts were assessed on innovation and creativity, technical execution, impact and relevance, presentation and communication, and collaboration and teamwork.

The judging panel included Tequin Lake, a Grapple alumnus contributing a youth voice; Will Payne, Business Development Manager at Avocado AI; Graham Christie of Development Engineering Ltd; Paddy Pawson of Adventure Therapy Aotearoa; Jake Dalton, Legal Hacker at PrivSec and a former 4C Centre technical mentor; and Rachel Cummins, Lead Learning Advisor at Climate Action Campus, Ranga Taiao.

The health team’s “Goldmine of Medicine” was selected as the winning concept. Developed by Sanuli Rathnayake, a Year 13 student from Christchurch, and Soumitri Das and Leonna Banzuela, both Year 12 students from Auckland, the concept drew on research, chemistry, prototyping, 3D modelling and animation. Their proposed system would process sterilised polypropylene medical waste to recover propene, which could then be used to produce phenol and acetone, raw materials used in medicines such as paracetamol and aspirin.

For the participants, Grapple’s value extended well beyond the final result. Their feedback highlighted the confidence, technical and creative abilities, teamwork skills and connections they developed during the experience.

“One of the best experiences I’ve ever had, and it really helped me develop my thinking and modelling abilities, as well as teamwork,” participant Atharv said. Leonna Banzuela said: “I learned so much about myself. I got the pleasure to meet such amazing people.”

Grapple 2026 was made possible through the generous support of the Engineering New Zealand Foundation and the Tait Foundation, alongside the programme delivery and pastoral support provided by The Kind Foundation and the 4C Centre team. Together, they gave young people access to technology, practical resources, technical guidance and a supportive environment in which to test bold ideas. The challenge began in an imagined future, but the STEM skills, friendships and confidence developed during the week will continue well beyond Grapple.

 

Grapple26 supported by