At Mayfair School, innovation, teamwork, and excellence are a way of life. The School and its flagship teams, The Mayfair Mavericks, are proud to be recognised locally, nationally, and internationally for our achievements in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) through the prestigious FIRST Challenge programmes. Our kura is home to Nauwhea, the Hawkes Bay robotics collaboration and the New Zealand Blackbots, a national team that represents the spirit of creativity, perseverance, and leadership that defines Mayfair and Hawkes Bay learners.
The FIRST Challenge is a global competition designed to inspire young people to become future leaders and innovators through hands-on robotics, coding, and engineering challenges. Our students have risen to the occasion consistently achieving outstanding results and proudly carrying the mana of our school, whānau, and wider community onto national and international stages. FIRST is lead by Whaea Lana, an expeorienced FIRST lego parent, mentor and coach and supported by Miss Welsh, Matua Ben, Dr Foxy, Whaea Sherie, Matua Macdaddy and Mrs Fox.
At Mayfair, we believe that STEM is for everyone. That’s why all of our learners participate in FIRST programmes throughout their schooling journey:
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FIRST Discover (Years 0-2) – introducing our youngest tamariki to STEM through playful, hands-on experiences.
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FIRST Explore (Years 3-4) – encouraging teamwork, innovation, and real-world problem-solving.
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FIRST Challenge (Years 5-6) – building, programming, and competing with robots while developing critical thinking and design skills.
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Through these pathways, we ensure every learner from our youngest to our senior students is empowered to explore, innovate, and lead in both Te Ao Māori and Te Ao Whānui (the wider world).
We are incredibly proud of the leadership, excellence, and cultural pride shown by our Blackbots and all our Mayfair learners. At Mayfair School, we are not just preparing our tamariki for the future, we are empowering them to shape it.
Nō reira, ka whakanuia e mātou ngā akonga katoa e māia ana ki te tūhura, ki te ako, ki te wero i a rātou anō.
The future is bright for Mayfair tamariki and it's only just beginning.