Wairarapa College Students Triumph in National Minecraft Challenge

Wairarapa College has achieved back-to-back success in the national creative gaming sphere, securing first prize in the Interface Student Minecraft Competition for the second consecutive year. A team of Year 10 students, consisting of Sam Andrewartha, Izayah Apiata, Conner Brunt, and Adrian Te Kura, captivated judges with their innovative project titled “Coral and Krill Marine Life,” which highlighted the importance of marine conservation.

The competition, organized annually by Interface magazine, invites secondary schools across New Zealand to design and construct playable worlds within the popular gaming platform, Minecraft. This year’s theme, “Sustainable Seas,” encouraged students to create environments that promote healthy marine ecosystems while ensuring sustainable fishing practices.

Wairarapa College’s entry featured a realistic marine reserve that included a small fishing village, a harbour, vibrant coral reefs, and a managed fishing area. The students not only built the digital landscape but also produced a three-minute video tour that explained the features of their creation and its alignment with sustainability principles.

Richard Swallow, head of technology at Wairarapa College, praised the students for overcoming various challenges during the project. “They learned a lot of new skills in the process,” he stated. “It went beyond just gaming. They learned about project and time management, problem-solving, and the importance of constant collaboration.”

The students’ design drew inspiration from the Māori concept of kaitiakitanga, emphasizing the sacred responsibility of guardianship over the environment. Their project included a marine rehabilitation area, systems for submarine waste removal, and a micro-crustacean farm, all aimed at showcasing the importance of marine life.

To ensure their project met the competition’s requirements, the team utilized a blend of coding, basic programming, and Minecraft’s modification library. They conducted extensive research on ocean conservation, addressing issues such as ocean acidification, plastic pollution, and overfishing that threaten New Zealand’s waterways.

The team set three main goals for their project: protecting fish populations, promoting sustainable fishing practices, and ensuring clean, life-rich seas. They incorporated a state-of-the-art facility dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of injured marine life, providing sanctuary for orphaned fish and treatment for damaged coral.

To promote sustainable fishing, the students included educational resources on catch limits, minimum size requirements, and seasonal restrictions, all based on current New Zealand marine regulations. Additionally, they designed an on-site marae where fishing communities could learn traditional Māori practices.

In pursuit of clean seas, their design featured strategically placed rubbish bins, recycling stations, and underwater cleanup stations to address plastic waste. “We’ve even added krill farming to show how even tiny creatures can make a big difference,” the team noted in their tour presentation.

For their first-place finish, Wairarapa College received an E88PRO drone. Teams from Carmel College in Auckland and Okaihau College in Northland claimed second and third places, respectively.

According to Greg Adams, editor of Interface magazine, the competition attracted a significant number of entries, highlighting the high standard of creativity and innovation among participants. “Judging was a tough challenge due to the extremely high quality of submissions,” he remarked.

The 2025 competition took place in association with the Marine Stewardship Council, further emphasizing the event’s commitment to marine sustainability and education.