Team Acrobotica from Hastings Secondary College swept the competition as overall winners on November 3.

School groups competed in the tournament by building and remotely operating a tethered underwater aquabot constructed from a kit.

The win by team members Samantha Aguilar, Kayley Edwards, Lachlan Marotte, Zac Morgan, Luke Aguilar and Madisan Rogers secures a place in the International Sea Perch competition in America in May 2020.

Teachers Lloyd Godson and Jemma Stapleton accompanied the group on the New Zealand trip.

"For me this is what education should be all about. It's truly student-centred and they did it all on their own," said Mr Godson, himself an aquatic robotics enthusiast.

"It's authentic learning when you've got kids who are intrinsically motivated to work on something and using me as a mentor rather than telling them what to do.

"These guys worked weekends, after school, we had a little chat group to communicate ideas. They used all their unique skills and tapped into their strengths.

"We always go on about how we need to teach these 21st century skills in schools and this was a perfect example of students using technology to complete the challenges."

The team was praised for their presentation, trade and collect, celestial navigation, quiz and navigation of an agility course at the competition.

The final design for the craft was agreed upon at a group meeting, said Mr Morgan.

"The design was actually based off an ice-cream cone and basically we put everything together to shape it like a cone," he said.

"It increases its efficiency in the water as the tip cuts through the water with hydrodynamics."

Team Acrobotica was also announced as STEM award winners at the Ignite Mid North Coast Symposium on November 6.

Lachlan Marotte said the group had refined their skills in 3-D modelling and soldering to make the aquabot.

"It was a friendly competition and everyone was nice to each other. Everyone was collaborating with each other," he said.

"I think everyone is now excited and nervous about the competition in the US."

As part of the overseas trip the group enjoyed sightseeing in Christchurch, a scenic drive in Hanmer Springs, hiking at Conical Hill Lookout and visiting the International Antarctic Centre.

Mr Godson said students would also be attempting to start their own regional competition in Port Macquarie.

"They have spoken to a lot of business and industry people (at Ignite). They have been pitching to companies to try and get them on board as sponsors," he said.

"They have met and talked about partnering to run a competition locally because there is no regional competitions other than in New Zealand for Australians to try and earn a spot in America.

"We want to change that and we'd love to have Port Macquarie where we compete for national finals.

"I want the kids to run this as a student run group to organise the competition in Port Macquarie and present to company or university executives."

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