Two young boys from Te Awahou, Rotorua are preparing to represent their iwi, Ngāti Rangiwewehi and community, on the global stage at an international underwater robotics competition in the United States.

Teteira Vili (9) and Te Ata Hāpara Manga (10), both students at Rotorua Primary, earned an invitation to the prestigious International SeaPerch Challenge in Maryland this month. The event is an invitation-only world championship, pitting them against older, more experienced entrants.

The boys’ journey into robotics began when their mothers, Tahnee Vili and Putiputi Manga, encouraged them to explore interests outside of staying indoors.

For Te Ata Hāpara, the mission is about more than just the competition itself. “I think it’s important to our iwi, to our whaanau, to our supporters and to everyone who made this possible. So, the least we can do is go over there and actually try,” he said.

Te Ata Hāpara’s mother, Putiputi Manga, views the competition as a vital pathway for future careers in marine robotics and engineering for the young Ngāti Rangiwewehi competitors. She also highlighted the need to inspire the next generation.

“I think instilling that sort of hope and confidence in tamariki is very much needed, and definitely in these times. I think if we can do that and inspire them as an iwi then I think we’ve done our job

Teteira’s mother, Tahnee Vili, noted the non-technical skills the experience has developed. She said it has taught them both “heaps in terms of working together,” adding, “They’re both very strong minded. Opinionated and the first born eldest children of their families, so it’s good to see them working together to problem solve.”

The two have designed robots capable of practical tasks, including environmental work such as cleaning waterways. On the value of the upcoming trip, Te Ata Hāpara emphasized the educational benefits: “The competition is important to me because I think it’s a good place for learning. A good place to try and a good place to see what other people can do.”

Around $8,000 has been fundraised per person to support their trip to Maryland. As they prepare to depart at the end of May, the boys say their goal is clear: to make their whānau and iwi proud on the world stage.

Kia Whakamana i a Ngāti Rangiwewehi ki te Ao Hangarau

I kī te kaiwhakataetae a Teteira Vili mō tōna haerenga, “Ko tōku haerenga mo te International SeaPerch competition ki Amerika. Ko te marama ka haere mātou i te Mei.”

Hei tā Tahnee Vili rāua ko Putiputi Manga, ngā māmā o te tokorua, nā rāua i whakauru atu ngā tamariki ki te mahi karetao hei whai huarahi ki te hanga tohu i roto i te ao, ā, hei whakatinana i tētahi ara ki ngā mahi karetao moana me te pūkaha a meake nei.

Mō Putiputi Manga, ko tētahi whāinga nui ko te hanga rōpoti hei painga mō te taiao, pēnei i te whakapaipai i ngā awa. Hei tāna, “Nā reirā koirā tētahi o ngā whakaaro. Kia hangaia he waihanga, he robots e taea ai kia te whakapaipai i te awa. Me tā rāua wero atu kia mātou ko te whānau.”

Kua kohia te waru mano tāra mō rāua takitahi e te whānau hei tautoko i te haerenga. Hei tā Teteira Vili, ko tō rāua tino whāinga, “Kia whakamana e tō mātou whānau, tō mātou iwi me tō mātou Ngāti Rangiwewehi me ō mātou kura, ngā tangata kua awhina i a mātou ki te haere ki Amerika.”

Ka haere te tokorua nei ki tāwāhi hei te mutunga o Mei ki te whakaatu i te ao hangarau, i tō rāua tuakiri o Ngāti Rangiwewehi.