22 Oct 2026
Student rockets, an electric race car in Austria, classroom robots and research into why engineers stay. Here’s what recent Engineering New Zealand Foundation grant recipients have been up to.
It’s been a busy few months for projects backed by the Engineering New Zealand Foundation Grant Programme. Student teams are competing on the world stage and tamariki are building their first robots, with Foundation-funded mahi happening right across Aotearoa. Here are some recent highlights.
- University of Waikato Astronautics Club
After a highly successful test flight at home in New Zealand, the UWAC team took their rocket, Te Hōkioi, to compete at the Australian Universities Rocketry Competition in early October. Unfortunately, the commercial motor that was purchased failed and exploded just after take-off. The motor fault was outside the team's control, and the team's own systems performed impressively: the airframe held together remarkably well and the avionics remained functional – even deploying the recovery parachutes after the explosion. Nobody was hurt, and the incident was proof of UWAC’s solid systems and processes. “We’re all better engineers for it,” says Gareth Reid from the club. “We’ll take on board lessons from the experience and come back bigger and better than ever.”
The UWAC team with last year's competition rocket, Takahē. Photo: supplied
- The Kind Foundation – Grapple26
Fourteen high school students gathered at The Kind Foundation’s 4C Centre in Ōtautahi Christchurch for Grapple26. Over a week, they tackled a fictional future where a microbe had contaminated the world’s oil and gas. Team Doug Nova won with a concept for turning single-use medical waste into raw materials for essential medicines. “Your contribution helped create an environment where these young people felt encouraged to think boldly,” says Catherine Flemmer, Giving and Sponsorship Lead at The Kind Foundation.
The Kind Foundation's Grapple26 challenged teams of budding engineers like 'Madam K's Microbes', to tackle a complex global issue using problem-solving, collaboration and creativity. Photo: supplied
- The University of Auckland Formula SAE team
The team finished 10th out of 38 electric teams at Formula Student Austria, one of the world’s most competitive student motorsport events. They were also one of only 13 electric teams to finish the endurance event. “We never imagined we would finish 10th out of 38,” the team says. The result makes them the highest-ranked Australasian team, and next up is Formula SAE Australasia in November.
The engineers of the future from the University of Auckland achieved outstanding results with support from the Foundation. Photo: supplied
- Rotorua Primary School’s TronBots programme
The school bought 10 TronBots robotics kits, and students have been getting stuck in this term. “It’s great to see our students in their element. Thank you so much for your support,” says Lavinia Shepherd from Rotorua Primary School.
Rotorua Primary School's TronBots programme in action. Photo: supplied
- University of Canterbury
Career Trajectories in the Engineering Profession was one of the Grant Programme’s first grants in 2023. Associate Professor Enda Crossin, Head of the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department recently got in touch to share the results. The UC researchers found that meaningful work, psychological safety, belonging and work-life balance are the strongest levers for keeping engineers in the profession. “I hope this work has helped advance the Engineering New Zealand Foundation’s support for a thriving, healthy and enduring engineering profession,” says Enda. It shows a grant’s impact can keep growing long after the funding is spent.
Your turn?
Working on something that’ll inspire and contribute to a thriving engineering profession? Apply for a funding boost via the Engineering New Zealand Foundation Grant Programme. Applications are always open, and decisions will be made in mid-November for applications received by Friday 30 October.
