We are pleased to announce the launch of an exciting new opportunity for students across Tauranga — the Tauranga Student Space Innovation Hub.

This initiative has been developed by high-school teachers in Tauranga and supported by STEM Wana Trust. It has been designed to give motivated students the chance to work on high-level engineering and research projects linked to the space sector with a view to entering the Prime Minister’s Space Prize.

The Space Innovation Hub will bring together students from different schools into a shared collaborative environment where they can develop ambitious, real-world projects, supported by structured mentoring and access to expert guidance.

What is the Tauranga Student Space Innovation Hub?

The Hub is a centralised workspace where students will:

Design, build and test engineering projects
Carry out scientific investigations and experimental research
Learn how to work like real scientists and engineers
Explore careers and technologies within the growing space industry

Students will be supported to produce projects that meet the same quality expectations submitted to the Prime Minister’s Space Prize. Each year, a student who is going to carry on their studies in Aotearoa New Zealand has the chance to submit their project and win $50,000!

How the programme works

The Space Innovation Hub has two main phases:

1. Initial Incubation Phase (fortnightly meetings)

Students will meet every two weeks to:

Refine their ideas
Define clear research or design questions
Develop a strong project plan

Two powerful methods will be used:

Design Thinking – to understand problems, generate ideas and test solutions

Systems Thinking – to understand how different parts of a project fit together

This ensures projects are well-thought-out before students move into full development.

2. Ongoing Project Phase

Once a student’s project is clearly defined, they will:

Work independently on their project
Have access to Tinkd Makerspace as their main working hub
Receive periodic support and feedback
Guest speakers and industry advisors from science, engineering and space-related fields will be invited to talk with students and provide expert input.

Why should you get involved?

Students will:

Develop high-level problem-solving and research skills
Build real portfolios for university and scholarships
Gain exposure to the space and technology sectors
Work alongside other highly motivated students
Be supported to enter national science and engineering awards

We are excited to offer Tauranga students the chance to take part in something genuinely innovative and future-focused. And, while the prize is a substantial amount of money. This workspace will provide students with so much useful skills and knowledge going forward in their future pathways, that we hope they enjoy the time whether they win or not!

Find out more and register

To find out more, ask questions and meet some of the team involved come to the open evening which will be held on Thursday 12th March at 5:30pm at Tinkd Makerspace, 148 Durham Street. Students and parents/caregivers are all welcome.

Contact the host of Tauranga Student Space Innovation Hub - Open Evening

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