Our Team

Keen is a Year 12 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 10 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 12 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 9 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.

Arielle is a Year 7 student at Rosehill Intermediate School. Born in Seoul, Korea, she grew up in a family deeply rooted in engineering, with relatives working across various sectors of the industry on different continents, including Japan, Korea, Indonesia, Germany, the Netherlands, and the United States. This diverse environment has shaped her dream of becoming a world-leading engineer. Arielle's family influence has not only inspired her passion for technology but also encouraged her love for travel, which began when she was just a month old. She has continued to visit her family around the world each year, always eager to learn about new ideas and cultures.

Arielle first joined a STEM program in 2020 and discovered her passion for robotics, which she has pursued ever since. Starting in 2022, while still in primary school, she began participating in national and international robotics competitions, earning medals each year, which allowed her to gain hands-on experience while engaging with diverse communities.

Alongside her technical interests, she is deeply committed to environmental activism. She actively promote innovative technologies that aim to save the Earth, particularly through her efforts to protect the oceans.
In addition to her work in technology and the environment, she advocate for equine welfare, and she has participated in various activist campaigns across New Zealand. Arielle's journey so far has been fueled by a desire to learn, innovate, and make a difference, both in the world of engineering and in the broader global community.

Natalie is a Year 8 student at Kristin School, known for her strong management, communication, and planning skills, which make her a natural fit as an activity coordinator. She is deeply committed to inclusiveness, ensuring that everyone feels welcome and valued. If you have any questions during workshops, don't hesitate to ask—she’s always eager to assist!

In her free time, Natalie loves immersing herself in the performing arts. From acting, singing, and dancing to drawing, she shines in all these areas. Having taken part in numerous musicals since she was 8, she has developed a bold and confident stage presence. Some of her memorable roles include Summer Hathaway in School of Rock and Louisa Von Trapp in The Sound of Music. Beyond the stage, Natalie also enjoys exploring screen acting. Though new to this field, she has already appeared as an extra in Minecraft: The Movie and was a featured girl in a Ford Ranger ad. She’s excited about the future and the opportunities it holds.

As an activity coordinator, her goal is to create a fun and welcoming atmosphere, filled with creative activities and infectious enthusiasm!