More than 220 students from across the Western Bay of Plenty took part in this year’s yia! (Young Innovator Awards), bringing their boldest ideas to life in a one-day design thinking workshop to challenge how we use our public spaces.

With significant public and private investment, extensive work has been done to transform the city centre into a vibrant, welcoming place we can all be proud of – a great place to live, work, learn and play.  

The heart of our city is reawakening. With new spaces coming to life and more on the horizon, the streets are getting busier and there’s a growing sense of momentum and anticipation. This is not just revitalisation – it’s a reconnection with our city centre and all it has to offer. 

Held at Classic Flyers, the refreshed yia! format tasked 13 to 17-year-olds from five local high schools with reimagining underutilised parts of the city centre. Their mission: make them more appealing, inclusive, and exciting for young people. The results were anything but ordinary.

From giant, human-sized board games where the public becomes the playing pieces, to a human slingshot catapulting people into waterfront fun, and even a “floor-is-lava” installation that charges your phone the more you move, this cohort of rangatahi proved they’re ready to shake things up.

But one idea stood out. A team made up of students from Mount Maunganui College, Tauranga Girls’ College and Tauranga Boys’ College dreamed up a full-scale mini-golf course stretching across the city’s grassed areas. Designed as an interactive public experience, the concept blends fun with community connection and family-friendly appeal. The judges were sold.

Bay of Plenty–founded agritech company Robotics Plus, a developer of robotics, AI, and autonomous machines and long-time yia! sponsor, was represented on this year’s all-female judging panel by Toni Graham, the company’s Engineering Delivery Lead:

“The creativity and technical curiosity from students this year was impressive. It was wonderful to see young people grow their confidence through yia! At Robotics Plus, we’re passionate about fostering innovation and inspiring future leaders in STEM, especially locally. Being exposed to innovative ideas and thinking early on can make all the difference. I know it did for me, and for many of my colleagues.”

Meg Davis, Project Manager for yia! at Priority One, says the energy and imagination of the students continues to impress year after year.

“We are constantly blown away by the energy of our rangatahi and their fresh approach to problem-solving. Their ideas are original, exciting, and they’re not afraid to try something new.”

Davis says the challenge was inspired by a need for youth-friendly spaces in our city centre.

“The task we set for the students this year reflects the need for cities and towns across Aotearoa to think about how they create safe, inclusive spaces, where rangatahi can connect, learn, and express themselves.”

The power of design thinking to unlock creativity and agency in young people is at the heart of yia! By giving students real-world problems to solve, and empowering them to work collaboratively in mixed teams, the programme cultivates critical thinking, curiosity, and confidence. Youth innovation is not just about fresh ideas, it’s about surfacing perspectives we often overlook and creating space for the next generation to shape the places they will inherit.

Now in its 16th year, yia! has become Aotearoa’s largest youth innovation programme. Since its inception, the initiative has seen over 2,000 projects submitted by thousands of young people across the region. But 2025’s format marked a shift, no pre-entries, no advance submissions, just show up and start innovating.

“By evolving yia! into a one-day event, we’re removing barriers that previously made it hard for some students to take part,” Davis says. “We’re making it easier for rangatahi to join in, while lessening the load on teachers and schools.”

While the format may be new, the kaupapa remains the same: inspiring the next generation of thinkers, doers, and changemakers.

“yia! is just one of the ways we’re engaging with youth to build a city that reflects their aspirations, creativity, and needs,” says Davis. “They are proud of where they live and are already thinking about sustainability and responsibility in shaping its future.”

The mini-golf concept wasn’t the only idea to wow the judges. Other winning teams brought forward equally exceptional innovations. One team pitched a sensory play zone that blended interactive sound and light elements to support neurodiverse young people. Another proposed a garden and chill-out lounge designed for breaks and youth-led events, promoting mental wellbeing and environmental awareness. A third group reimagined the water front as a cultural arcade showcasing local music, food, and art through interactive installations. Across the board, the ideas reflected a deep understanding of the city’s current challenges, and a powerful vision for how to transform it into a place where young people feel seen, safe, and inspired. Congratulations to you all.

None of this would be possible without the generous support of yia!’s sponsors and partners. Their belief in the power of youth innovation and their investment in the next generation is what brings the programme to life each year. From funding and mentorship to in-kind support and judging expertise, each partner plays a vital role in creating a meaningful, hands-on experience for students. Priority One delivers yia! in collaboration with Instep, Bluelab, Woods Agency, The Shine Collective and Cucumber, with support from sponsors including James & Wells, Tauranga City Council, Robotics Plus, Beca, Page Macrae Engineering, Brother, Globex and the University of Waikato. Their continued commitment ensures yia! remains a dynamic and impactful platform that empowers rangatahi to think big, act boldly, and shape the future of their region.