Roncalli students bag award
A group of Roncalli College students has won the YES National Excellence Tourism award with a reusable jute bag.
The Lion Foundation Young Enterprise Scheme (YES) company of the year national finals were held in Wellington on Wednesday, with Patiti Point business members Nick Goodwin, 16, Grace Scarsbrook, 17, and former student Billy Cook, 17, receiving the award for a team the judges said had ‘‘formed strong partnerships with their local community’’.
Patiti Point sold a decorative, multipurpose reusable, environmentally friendly bag made from jute and cotton. Creating a sustainable product was important to the team.
The bags feature a Kiwianastyle map of New Zealand and a safe driving message and can be used for rubbish or to hold items.
Grace said the trophy and the $1000 prize was ‘‘awesome’’.
The team entered a number of award categories and though they knew they had won something ahead of the night, they did not know what.
YES is a year-long programme backed by the South Canterbury Chamber of Commerce in which students set up and run an actual company.
Judges noted Patiti Point established product values, carried out market research, produced a financial report and formed strong partnerships with their local community.
The business sold 200 bags, with many used in campervans, making $1400 by November which they are putting back into the business to produce more.
Tourism Industry Aotearoa chief executive Chris Roberts said the company had a clear awareness of relevant tourism issues and had developed the product as a viable solution.