The initiative, supported by Coca-Cola, One NZ and Pacific Business Trust is a fusion between the organisation’s flagship programme,‘Young Enterprise Scheme’, and a fast-paced startup weekend, incorporating Māori and Pasifika cultural values and perspectives throughout, designed to immerse students in three days of enterprise-focused activities to connect, collaborate and learn.

Throughout the programme, students worked in teams hosted by six leading New Zealand organisations – Accenture, Coca-Cola, Deloitte, EY, One NZ and Pacific Business Trust who mentored the students as they tackled The Coca-Cola Business Challenge. Students were challenged to design a solution that removes confusion from recycling and helps people clearly understand what goes where.

Team Coca-Cola took out first place in the 36-hour business challenge with their innovative solution addressing the challenge. The winning team members were Hailey Richardson - Sacred Heart Girls' College New Plymouth, Leato Collins - De La Salle College, Lupe Taulanga - Auckland Girls' High School, Nariah Devereux - Cashmere High School, Sitei Liava'a - Queen's High School, Zkeyah Gibson - Ōtaki College. The team was guided by alumni mentor, Ngapuhi Kraus, and company hosts Laura Traynor, Vena Leilua, and Jenna Pepper from Coca-Cola. The judges were impressed by the team's plausible business plan and the scalability of their idea.

Coca-Cola spokesperson shared:  

“At Coca‑Cola, sustainability isn’t just about what we make - it’s about looking after the places and communities, we’re part of. We truly believe a bottle or can isn’t waste, but something with value that can be recycled and given a second life. Supporting rangatahi Māori and Pasifika through programmes like Young Navigators lets us learn from fresh thinking and diverse perspectives. The ideas that start here might be small today, but they have the potential to grow into solutions that genuinely improve how we manage waste and protect our waterways across the country.”

“It is a pleasure creating a space for our young people to thrive outside of their comfort zone”, Head of YES, Ian Musson, reflects on the programme, saying, “I am so proud of our young navigators, it’s inspiring watching them step into their potential, embrace their culture and lean into the opportunity.”

Young Navigators participants were chosen from applicants who are all participants in The Lion Foundation Young Enterprise Scheme (YES) programme. They represented a total of 36 schools from 15 regions. The YES programme has over 5000 participants, who create and run their own businesses throughout the school year as a part of the entrepreneurial education programme.