First prize goes to non-existent newspaper

First prize goes to non-existent newspaper

A prize-winning newspaper may never hit the stands* but maybe it should. The newspaper, Nesian Nius, is the brainchild of four Year 13 students from Aorere College, Papatoetoe. They masterminded the Pasifika broadsheet to scoop top prize of $8,000 in the inaugural Pacific Business Challenge held last week.

Eight teams from six Counties Manukau schools competed for $28,000 in cash prizes and tertiary scholarships for study at AUT University or Manukau Institute of Technology (MIT). Mangere College came in second place with their ready-made Pasifika flavour, chicken stuffing * Stuff D Moa * taking home $8,000.

An outstanding individual, Tupea Sifa, from Edgewater College won $2,000 for being top all round student. The Challenge aim was to encourage the entrepreneurial spirit of Pasifika students in South Auckland by enabling them to develop business ideas.

Pasifika business leaders and AUT and MIT lecturers coached the students throughout the week long competition, advising on marketing, research, finance, HR and contingency planning.

Projects, including a plug-in printer for mobile phone photos, Coconut Go-Go Nuts - fresh coconut juice in a bottle, and an alcohol-free teen nightclub, also impressed the judging panel at the Challenge final.

Other schools competing were Auckland Seventh Day Adventist College, De La Salle College and Sir Edmund Hilary Collegiate. Projects were assessed against real-world criteria, such as competitive advantage and financial planning. MIT also awarded two study scholarships valued at $3,500 and three at $1,000. Manukau City Council is the main event sponsor. Other Challenge stakeholders are Pacific Business Trust, AUT University and Manukau Institute of Technology.

ENDS

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