Battle of the problem-solvers

The annual New Zealand Engineering Science Competition is a prestigious problem- solving event for senior secondary students, organised by the University of Auckland’s Department of Engineering Science and Biomedical Engineering.

This exciting and intellectually demanding competition invites teams of three or four Year 12 and 13 students who have a strong interest in mathematics and science.

This year’s event took place last Saturday and ran for the full day. Our school was well represented, with 59 students across 15 teams participating under the guidance of Mr Herber, the teacher in charge. In the month leading up to the competition, the students prepared by tackling open-ended problems and developing their mathematical modelling skills.

The 2025 challenge was: “If New Zealand built gravity batteries near wind farms, how much energy could be stored during a period of strong wind?”

Teams were required to research this real-world engineering problem and develop a solution, submitting a comprehensive 10-page report by 6pm that day.

It was a full-on but rewarding experience. Some teams worked smoothly and methodically. Others wrestled with tricky modelling or burst into spontaneous karaoke to manage the stress.

There were moments of frustration, but ultimately, every team made it to the finish line—tired, proud, and just a little frazzled.

The results of the competition will be announced in November, and we eagerly await the outcomes. Regardless of the final rankings, all students gained valuable experience in teamwork, research, and creative problem-solving.