They built it. Now they have to race it.

Over the past few months, rangatahi from Tipene and Te Kāpehu Whetū have been doing something a little different in the classroom – designing and building their own electric vehicles from the ground up.

Through our partnership with EVolocity, tauira have been getting hands-on with engineering, starting with mini EVs to understand the basics of motors and circuitry before stepping up to the real thing.

Since then, there’s been designing, wiring, welding, testing, problem-solving – and probably a few moments of wondering whether the thing was ever actually going to move.

Now the finish line is in sight.

On 29 October, the teams from Tipene and Te Kāpehu Whetū will take their vehicles to the EVolocity Regional Finals, where they’ll go head-to-head with other rangatahi and put months of mahi to the test on the track.

And it’s not just about who goes fastest.

The EVolocity programme gives rangatahi practical experience across engineering, technology and sustainability, challenging them to take an idea from design through to a working electric vehicle. On race day, their builds are tested across events including drag racing, manoeuvrability, endurance and energy efficiency, alongside awards recognising engineering, innovation and sustainability.

For Tū Ātea, that’s what makes this kaupapa exciting.

We want more Māori rangatahi to be able to see themselves in technology – not just using it, but designing it, building it and understanding how it works.

Sometimes the best way to open up a pathway is to give someone the opportunity to have a go.

We’ve loved watching these tauira move from those first mini EVs to vehicles they’ve designed and built themselves.

Next stop: the racetrack.

EVolocity Regional Finals
📅 29 October
🏎️ Tipene College vs Te Kāpehu Whetū – and teams from across the region

We’ll be trackside cheering them on. Keep an eye on our channels as we follow the teams through their final preparations and race day.