Kids create their vision for Te Wero bridge

From City Scene, published on 12 August, 2007

Te Wero bridge - Owairaka Primary School students with sketches of ideas for the Te Wero Bridge design competition. Pictured (from left): Benny Brebner, Joel Netten, Mohamed Said, Thomas Lear, Karuna Thawani and Alice Ng.

Imagine a bridge platform that slides out of a cavity and is held in place by electromagnets. When extended, the bridge can carry pedestrians, cyclists and passenger transport. When the platform is retracted, boats can travel through the gap. Or what about a waka-shaped bridge that can offer the same dual use by rotating 90 degrees on a central support? These are some of the ideas Owairaka Primary School students came up with after hearing about Auckland City Council's Te Wero Bridge design competition. Deputy principal Veronica van der Straaten says the project has captured students' imaginations and stretched their thinking in maths and design technology. "The kids are excited about potentially designing a bridge for our waterfront that they will ultimately use as adults," she says.

With just a week to go until registration for the competition closes on 17 August, Auckland City Council urges Aucklanders to get involved. The competition has an initial prize pool of $10,000 and entries need to be submitted by 31 August.

Entries will be exhibited and Aucklanders are encouraged to give feedback to competition judges. The bridge will span the water between Te Wero Island and the soon-to-be developed Wynyard Quarter in Auckland's Viaduct Harbour. To register, visit our website or phone 379 2020.