Lianne
Dalziel
Christchurch East MP
1 December 2011 MEDIA STATEMENT
Student creation lights the way
The roaring success of a sustainable energy transfer device, dubbed the “Lion”, has been recognised by Labour MP for
Christchurch East, Lianne Dalziel, who will host a special lunch for its creators at Parliament on Friday.
The team from St Thomas of Canterbury College Technology has taken the top regional honours in the Lion Foundation Young
Enterprise Scheme with the device, which can power cell-phones, lights and radios during power cuts
Originally developed as a solution to the post-earthquake blackouts, 24 prototypes were made and tested before the
finished Lion was considered market ready.
It has since been adapted - through various business partnerships forged with Kathmandu, Mitre 10, Tait Electronics, DHL
and the New Zealand Public Service Association - to use solar power as a means of also powering laptops.
Campers were identified as a secondary market and production of Lion is continuing to supply retail outlets.
Lianne Dalziel, a former Minister of Commerce, who has long been supportive of this school’s participation in the Young
Enterprise Scheme, will greet the students and their mentors at Parliament tomorrow before hosting them to lunch in the
Members’ Dining Room as special acknowledgement of their tremendous success.
The awards, to be presented at a dinner on Friday, attended by the Governor General are as follows:
Canterbury Regional Winners: St Thomas of Canterbury College- Advanced Clean Technologies (announced November 2011)
National Award Winners: St Thomas of Canterbury College- Advanced Clean Technologies (this award is an absolute - to be
presented on evening of 2 December 2011 – Governor General’s Gala Dinner – the specific award will be known on the night
– it may be multiple awards)
Science Alive Award for Technology: St Thomas of Canterbury College - Advanced Clean Technologies (announced November
2011)
University of Canterbury – College of Business – Enterprise Student of the Year – James Agnew – St Thomas of Canterbury
College (announced November 2011).
New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants (NZICA) Young Managing Director of the Year (2011) James Agnew – St
Thomas of Canterbury College (To Be Presented, Black Tie Dinner, Wellington Town Hall 30th November 2011 – NZICA
National Excellence Dinner). James won this award from a potential class of 4,500 students nationally.
Lion Foundation Company of the Year: Todd Corporation Company of the Year (will be announced on the evening of 2
December – ACE has real prospects for either of these awards).