News Release

27 March 2007

Eureka! Let’s Get Inventin Taranaki!

Creative thinking caps are being pulled on by young Taranaki inventors for the next quirky exhibition coming to New Plymouth. ‘Let’s Get Inventin’ is designed to get children solving old problems using new ideas and ingenious thought. It’s named after the uproariously funny yet highly practical TV programme featuring the Goober Brothers, aka Luke Nola and Greg Wood, who are the inspirational personalities fronting the exhibition.

“We are delighted to welcome Luke and Greg and we can’t wait to see the results of the inventive activity they are inspiring in the minds of young people in Taranaki,” said Bill Macnaught, Manager of Puke Ariki.

Twelve creative workshops with Luke Nola are currently underway throughout the region and have already resulted in hundreds of ideas and dozens of inventions that will be submitted for selection on 17 June with the winning two ideas possibly being built with the help of the Let’s Get Inventin Team in the 2008 television series.

“There are some great ideas in the exhibition that have been fashioned together using all sorts of materials,” says Mr Macnaught. “It’s amazing how inventive Kiwis are and obviously it starts early because some of the inventions are designed by children who are quite young.”

Some of the attractions in the exhibition will appeal to all ages. “There is a great opportunity to increase your brain-gym skills using the more technical Mindstorm Lego and we are providing a chance for anyone to have a go at programming and controlling the Roamin Robots - these are really good fun!” says Mr Macnaught.

The exhibition events programme, sponsored by Transfield Worley, promises some exciting and interesting people as well. “We are looking forward to bringing some of the Let’s Get Inventin team to Puke Ariki over the duration of the exhibition like Andrew Akers, who invented the Zorb, Chris Chitty who is one of New Zealand’s foremost robot specialists and Sam Britten, son of the late John Britten inventor of the world famous V1000 Britten motorcycle,” says Mr Macnaught.

‘Let’s get Inventin’ is generously sponsored by:
• Transfield Worley – Working With You. Global Strength, Local Expertise
• The Edge 94.0 FM
• MOTAT (Museum of Transport and Technology)
• Television Spaceman
• Chemwash

ENDS