INDEPENDENT NEWS

Ultimate Challenge is ultimate winner

Published: Tue 8 May 2007 09:53 AM
Ultimate Challenge is ultimate winner
Hastings District Council has received first prize in the annual Air New Zealand Sister City awards.
The announcement was made at the National Sister City Conference held in Te Anau last week.
The Hastings secondary schools ‘Ultimate Challenge’ was awarded Best Youth Education School Project among those submitting from Sister Cities throughout New Zealand.
Councillor Kevin Watkins who conceived the Ultimate Challenge as part of last year’s 25th Sister City Anniversary between Hastings and Guilin said he was delighted with the win.
“The success of the Ultimate Challenge highlights the massive educational value our Sister City relationship provides for young people in Hastings. It’s an integral part of our district and one I am very proud to nurture and support,” said Councillor Watkins.
The Ultimate Challenge entailed teams of school students from across Hastings district participating in a race to identify two unnamed women from Guilin whose population is 4.3 million. A photograph of the women was supplied to each team.
The challenge was solved by two Havelock North High School students in 107 hours. In September 2006 the two winners travelled to Guilin for eight days. The trip was sponsored by the Rotary Club of Hastings.
Councillor Watkins said the Ultimate Challenge helped to communicate the relationship between Guilin and Hastings.
“Mainland China and Guilin in particular received thousands of calls, emails and faxes as frantic students attempted to find out the identity of the two young women. During their search students also made contact with people in Australia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Sweden, Norway and the USA – it really was an international search,” said Cllr Watkins.
The two women in the photo visited Hastings in September last year to take part in the 25th Anniversary celebrations and the Blossom Festival.
ENDS

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