Our Team

Keen is a Year 13 student at Kristin School. He is the initiator and Lead Coordinator of Koru STEM.

My motivation to establish this club stems from a deep understanding of the critical role enrichment activities play in child development and in maintaining the mental and physical health of our elderly population.

Also, I recognise the pressing need to guide younger generations toward more productive yet engaging pursuits, offering an exciting alternative to the potential pitfalls of excessive gaming or social media use.

While this idea has been considered for a sum of time, such an endeavour has been accelerated by the people who work alongside me.

Through our robotics and STEM programs, we aim to channel creativity and curiosity into practical skills.

Benjamin is a Year 11 student at Macleans College. His favourite subjects are Math and Science, in which he consistently excels. He also has strong skills in robotics, programming, and technology. Benjamin has competed in the FIRST LEGO League and the New Zealand Robot Olympiad, as well as representing New Zealand in the International Robot Olympiad. He has been awarded medals in ICAS for Digital Technology and Science for achieving top scores in New Zealand.
He has achieved a perfect score in OUCC competitions, and consistently achieved high distinctions in various other STEM competitions such as AMC, CAT, Big Science, etc. He plans to study engineering at university.

Benjamin has a strong sense of service. In his free time, he actively volunteers in community work, which he has been doing since he was six years old as a St John cadet. He enjoys playing video games with friends, building LEGO, eating good food, traveling, and playing golf.

Colen is a Year 13 student at Pinehurst School with a passion for programming and astronomy, which has led to Physics, Computer Science, and Math being his favourite subjects. He has experience in 3D modelling and game development and has recently developed an interest in Finance. With a long history of leadership positions, Colen has planned and organised many events along with his fellow council members for his school which promote awareness on social issues, as well as engaging volunteer work for the community.

By making STEM education more accessible in New Zealand, his goal is to create more opportunities in Science and Engineering for local communities. His hobbies include skiing, volleyball, and playing video games. He plans to study Finance at university.

Natalia is a Year 10 student at Carmel College with a passion for robotics and a love for cats. Born in Japan and now living in New Zealand, she has maintained a strong connection to her Japanese roots. She enjoys watching Transformers movies, with Bumblebee being her favourite character, and hopes to one day build a real-life transformer robot using her robotics skills.

Natalie, a Year 9 student at Kristin School, is renowned for her exceptional management, communication, and organizational prowess. She demonstrates an unwavering commitment to inclusivity, ensuring everyone feels embraced and valued. During workshops, she remains perpetually eager to assist with any inquiries.In her leisure time, Natalie immerses herself in performing arts with unbridled passion. From acting and singing to dancing and illustrating, she exhibits remarkable versatility. Having participated in theatrical productions since age eight, she has cultivated a bold stage presence. Her memorable roles include Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz and Louisa von Trapp in The Sound of Music.
Beyond the proscenium, Natalie explores screen acting. Though a neophyte in this field, she has appeared as an extra in Minecraft: The Movie and featured in a Ford Ranger advertisement. With a palpable excitement for the myriad opportunities ahead, she approaches her artistic journey with enthusiasm.As an integral part of her club, Natalie's aspiration is to create an entertaining and welcoming environment, filled with imaginative activities and infectious energy!