New electricity school kits light up young minds in Waipā schools

Waipā Networks has partnered with Hamilton-based education resource provider School Kit to provide a series of electricity-inspired activity kits for rangatahi across Waipā.

More than 11,000 students across 34 schools in Waipā and surrounding areas will soon have access to two kits that utilise batteries, solar power and circuitry to teach them about electricity and renewable energy.

School Kit delivers free kits to schools throughout Aotearoa through public and private sector partnerships.

Waipā Networks General Manager Customer and Community, Anna Watson, says they have been working with School Kit since December last year to integrate these resources into schools within the network coverage area.

“As a business that’s 100% owned by its customers, we are committed to investing in our region’s future through our sponsorship programmes. Supporting our rangatahi in learning about science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) plays a crucial role in this.

“Working with School Kit, we’re not only equipping our young learners with the tools they need today, but we’re also preparing them to tackle the challenges of the future.”

After lots of planning to customise the kits so that they’re unique to our region, the team is excited to start rolling out two separate kits to schools in Term 2.

The ‘Power it up’ kit, tailored for students aged 8 to 14, includes a workbook with six Waipā-inspired pictures that students can light up and buzz using copper tape, a 3V battery and an LED light.

The second kit, designed for students aged 10 to 15, challenges them to assemble and wire a small solar-powered race car before testing it against classmates. Students compete in two categories: fastest car and furthest distance travelled, with winners taking home a Waipā Networks trophy.

“The great thing about School Kit is that their kits are fun and easy, not just for the students but for teachers too. Online resources also teach teachers how to use the kits and plan lessons around them.”

Waipā is growing faster than ever, and so is the need to support local communities through the next phase of electrification.

By 2050, an additional 25,000 people are expected to live in the district, bringing the total population above 74,000 people. The demand for electricity is also expected to double by that time.

Watson says it’s more important now than ever to teach young people about electricity and hopefully inspire the next generation of engineers, technicians and innovators.

With an online platform that holds the digital version of each kit, School Kit is now reaching out to all 34 schools to encourage them to sign up to receive their kits.