New Zealand Regional
 

Last night at the competition they announced that there is going to be a New Zealand Regional next year!

I was just curious to see what teams were thinking about going to attend the regional next year. Let me know if you're team is definetly going or are thinking about it.

Re: New Zealand Regional
 

That would have to be one expensive trip!

Re: New Zealand Regional
 

Are there currently any FRC teams in New Zealand?

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No, but there will be next year.

Re: New Zealand Regional
 

Will there be enough new teams for the regionals by themselves? I.E. 12 or more teams?

Wow, either way a regional for itself that is cool. When is Australia joining in? :D

Re: New Zealand Regional
 

I don't think any teams from the US or Canada will be going to that regional, at least not for the first few years. Like the Israeli and Brazilian regionals, it will most likely be filled with local teams.

I think it will be interesting to see how this goes along without a pilot event. I understand that FIRST is stopping with the pilots as a result of the large financial risk, even though it will be much more challenging to start international full-scale regionals.

Re: New Zealand Regional
 

Our students were very excited about the notion of competing in New Zealand (or Isreal, Brazil for that matter) until I checked on airfare... $1500 is a ballpark figure, maybe a bit less if purchased enough in advance. So at a cost of almost $2000 per person and add in that shipping cost - YIKES!!

Re: New Zealand Regional
 

I'll bet some $100 bills that 233 goes :cool:

Re: New Zealand Regional
 

Yes, it will likely have more teams than either Israel or Brazil did their first year. Otherwise my New Zealand regional t-shirt might become an antique real fast. ;)
Seriously, this event is going to be a lot of fun and one of the best first-year events around.

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I actually wouldn't mind going (either to compete or just as a spectator)

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I hope we go. We made pretty good friends with a few of them. They were great to talk to. Some of our team mates were very saddened to see them go.

Re: New Zealand Regional
 

I heard that 3 North American teams will be going, with 27 rookies from NZ being there. I heard a few #'s dropped, I won't confirm until they do.

They've already tried to get my dad to go and myself, so lets see how this goes...

Re: New Zealand Regional
 

I can say that many of us on 179 are drooling over that one. We'll need to start looking at the details soon I guess. Or just watch what pink does :)

Re: New Zealand Regional
 

I would also love to go...but trips to that region are usually for extended periods in order to make the time and cost of travel worthwhile (13 hours from LA and over 1K$). This could be a problem for teams in mid-March with school and work. Most of my friends that have been there went on a 1-2 month Australia-NZ trip.

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Is there something you know that I don't? :yikes:

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i would second that

Re: New Zealand Regional
 

That'd be so awesome....

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i heard that pink and the poofs are the founding teams of the new zealand regional and were the ones that brought it to FIRST's attention... so if that is true, I believe that they will be going.

and as the money goes.. teams better start the 09' season right now and fundraise their butt off if they want to go!!!:)

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Maybe if we worked our way over on a tramp steamer, they would take the robot for no additional charge?

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Epsilon Delta won the NYC RCA (partly) because of this, so I'd assume that they would be one of the North American teams going.

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Well I can dispel that myth right now. We only found out about the New Zealand Regional when we went to Hawaii, after FIRST requested we host some Kiwis in Atlanta. I only know that, much like the Hawaii Regional, NASA had a large influence.

That being said, we had a great time with all the New Zealanders and hope we might see them again next year. ;)

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I don't know where these numbers are coming from and nothing is set in stone until teams ACTUALLY register and stuff, but one of the observers that was with the Robonauts said 24 new teams. Maybe I misheard?


Pavan


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Re: New Zealand Regional
 

We had two of their representatives with our team. I only got to see them on Sat as I was reffing FLL on Thurs and Fri, but it certainly was a pleasure working with Tim. He wanted some pointers on strategy and such - I think he could give some tips to teams himself.

The NZ government is very much behind the regional, and is providing funding to both the event and to teams. They expect to have at least 24 teams there. I mentioned it would be best to have at least 30, so that after alliance selections those not picked would have other teams to comiserate with.

I asked him specifically if they were going to allow teams to come from the US to NZ, and he said he didn't know if that had been decided. I mentioned that there were a few teams with budgets that might allow consideration of going.

Someone else I was talking to said that the Hawaii regional opened up Chairmans to rookies, because most of the teams were rookies. Is there any truth to that statement?

Re: New Zealand Regional
 

I wasn't there, but I would say probably not. The RCA is defined as a non-rookie award. (Now, for an all-rookie event--that's another story. Maybe one of the Israeli teams could say what happened there during the pilot year, when the closest veteran team was in England.)

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Going to this regional will make the team easy to go to national because most of the teams in this regional are rookies

I don't want say that rookies are bad, but their are more chances

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The first Israeli regional had all the usual awards except CA and EI. Only the rookie all star and winning alliance captain were eligible for Championship (2 teams).

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The principal that we hosted also said 24 teams, also mentioning that FedEx and NASA had a lot to do with it. The NZ regional sounds fun...too bad it'll probably be wayyyyy too expensive for domestic teams to get to.

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Or I misheard. Point is that they are interested in existing teams from the western hemisphere coming.

Re: New Zealand Regional
 

Ed, that would be the regional i would go to and the whole team would want to go to.... its because we'll have some friends there

Re: New Zealand Regional
 

1676 discussed this as a team, and again by the mentors, and we decided that attending the 2009 NZ regional is well within the realm of possible. I agree, cost is a huge factor, but we have about a year for fundraising.

We also very much enjoyed speaking with many of the NZ folks, they were full of good questions.

I think that having a few experienced teams there - no, not trolling for an easy RCA - would really be a benefit for all the rookies. Team 1676 has been recognized more than once as a team that reaches out and gives to other teams at regionals, and we all think that giving to the NZ teams would be twice as much fun.

Don

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pretty sure they are

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I know my team (or at least me) is going to be fundraising like crazy if we are allowed to enter. Now we can go half way around the world to loose to 233 (if they go):D

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We're gonna have to raise ALOT of money to go so you guys best get crackin.!

Re: New Zealand Regional
 

Welcome to team 359's costs of attending regionals on the East Coast (2 this year) and CMP (another 1800) per student. We took 25 on the first trip and 22 on the CMP one.
For ONCE, it would be cheaper for a Hawaii team to attend than a mainland team.;)

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I dont believe you. More like alliance first pick, team 179!

Re: New Zealand Regional
 

We're seriously considering it. We had a lot of fun with some of the NZ'ers shadowing us and I'm really glad we decided to do so.

Costs are obviously phenomenal, but it really will depend on how the week's end up scheduling out. If spring break falls on NZ... well then, that would allow us much greater flexibility. However if we did go we decided we probably would not go for chairmans there, although I'm hoping it's going to attract some tough competition there... among the non NZ teams, we're more than likely going to stick with LA.

Good luck to all teams raising money. You have around 10 months. :D

Re: New Zealand Regional
 

I started looking in to this when I heard about it. I am planning to study abroad in Australia next spring but I might try to move to the University of Auckland if I can help out a new FIRST team while I am there.

This is the article that I read today.

Re: New Zealand Regional
 

We had two New Zealanders with us at the Championship and they were a blast. We would love to go, but.... we have many team members that might have issues with their immigration status. We will not split the team to make the trip. We decided long ago we all go or none of go when deciding competitions. Now when the DREAM act passes.... You can bet your life we will raise the funds to go! We also learned that there is no obstacle that we cannot overcome. DREAM act will be one and then New Zealand! Raising the money is just a formality, all be it a big one.

Re: New Zealand Regional
 

When I had first heard of the NZ Regional, I was all ready to go. However, after looking up the cost of a mid-March flight to NZ from Philadelphia, the cost was nearly $2,500 for each of us.

I am having a huge internal debate between a $5000+ trip once in the next 5-10 years or a $1500 trip every other year.

:(

Re: New Zealand Regional
 

I think we will all have to wait and see. I know that when I was talking to two of the representatives, I specifically asked if they were saving spots for teams frorn the US to go to the regional. The response I got was, no, they were expecting to fill it with only New Zealand Teams. So that sounds like the gentlemen I talked to were not interested in existing teams from the western hemisphere coming.

Re: New Zealand Regional
 

An interesting ethical dilemma - for approximately the same amount of funds, one could send three students from one team on a perhaps once-in-a-lifetime trip halfway across the planet to participate in an additional competition event, or one could provide support for an entire additional FRC team to allow them to participate in the program when they might not otherwise be able to do so.

As much fun and as exciting as a team trip to New Zealand would be, at some point a serious discussion about purpose, priorities, and propriety needs to take place.

-dave


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Re: New Zealand Regional
 

As I read this thread and notice the concerns regarding immigration status and the cost of travel, it hopefully serves to remind us of the many challenges in being involved in international competition.

While immigration issues are an issue for Canadian teams (two of our students, for instance, were not allowed in to the USA) and travel and transportation costs are slightly higher (passports are required to fly across the border, brokerage fees are added to shipments and orders), we have nothing... nothing... like the travel expenses and immigration issues faced by non North American teams seeking to compete in the USA.

So when considering the challenges that teams will face in getting to New Zealand, just remember that the exact same challenges (and sometimes more!) are faced and conquered by many, many teams around the world. It makes their achievements all the more impressive.

Jason

Re: New Zealand Regional
 

Dave has it nailed--if a team were to fly in on Thursday and leave late Saturday from such a regional, I'd be inclined to wonder about (but not necessarily condemn) the use of funds. While it might be hard to get all of the value back from the added cost of going halfway around the world, I've seen firsthand the effect of expanding a trip by even a half-day on students who haven't experienced such trips before. TIMS probably ought to make teams ask themselves about how much value they could realize from the trip before they click the Register button for New Zealand.

Re: New Zealand Regional
 

If you are doing this solely for excitement, then no, you should not go. There are less expensive ways to have simple fun.

When we went to Singapore, we had a full cultural and technological exchange involving classroom visits, presentations and home visitations. There certainly was plenty of excitement, but it was mixed with hard work and meaningful exchange.

When you put that much effort into something, you are shooting for a life changing experience.

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There is also the question of being too jet-lagged to be able to compete (if you arrive anything less then a week in advance)... although I must say I would be delighted to go but too bad I live in Canada and not in NZ :p

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I would love to go but I think money -or lack of- will prevent that.

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There is much wisdom in this thread. I hope all who read it, will spend time with some of the posts that our mentors are making and allow their words to sink in fully:
- the richness of the experience, itself
- creating/making time to submerge the members of the team into the culture(s) and educational system(s) of the country
- lining out priorities, possibilities, purpose for travel
- acknowledging the goals and struggles faced by teams from countries around the world that quietly prepare to meet the requirements of a FIRST team competing in FIRST events - respecting the system set in place by the program and rising to the challenge. I have yet to see their sacrifices, struggles, and successful achievements fully recognized anywhere, including in CD.

There will be more wisdom posted in this thread and I look forward to absorbing every single thoughtful word. :)

New Zealand, wow.

Jane

Re: New Zealand Regional
 

The dilemma for teams is much more than attending the New Zealand regional. Its going to be a much growing concern for FIRST, teams in the US, much like teams from Hawaii and/or foreign teams competing in the mainland US. The travel costs year after year will be a serious issue as FIRST expands internationally.
This is why teams must emphasize having an "entrepreneurship/business" plan to address sustainability and rising costs of participating in FIRST year after year.
As a rookie team way back when, we thought it would be impossible for us to compete after being completely depleted of funds/time/energy our first year. What we faced back in the 1999-2000 SY is what some veteran teams are only discussing now.
The one thing I have learned over recent years is that there are many many companies and foundations with deep pockets that are willing to help a school.
Do the research, do the math, and create that plan!:)

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An experience to head out of the US and Canada for a FIRST event sounds like THE coolest thing ever.

I think any team who can make the trip should.

Just PLEASE don't make it the same date as the Hawaii regional...that would be a huge mistake.

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If we stay with a 6 week schedule, I'd think that NZ should be Week 1, Hawaii Week 3, and NYC Week 6.

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This is great news. However I feel one of the bigger things being overlooked is the experience you'd have down there.

I was lucky enough to spend three weeks in New Zealand in the summer of 2006. I have to say that once you start seeing the sights, you want to see more. There is just so much there to see and do. I would hate to see teams spend so much money to go and only compete for a few days and not do much sightseeing.

I still want to go back and experience more of what these two beautiful islands have to offer. You can't possibly go there for a few days, or even a week, and get the whole experience.

Josh

Re: New Zealand Regional
 

Hawaii is and will be during week 5, which is during our spring break for all Hawaii schools, both public and private.
I actually wished it was week 1 or 2 to save on shipping costs or to rotate the weeks in order to allow every team to be able to participate at some point.
BUT, its not happening anytime soon.:(

Re: New Zealand Regional
 

Would your team really have that much money to go to BOTH Hawaii AND New Zealand regionals? Sure they'd both be a ton of fun...but I'm sure those funds can be better allocated. Take it from me...go to the Hawaii Regional..;)

Re: New Zealand Regional
 

We were lucky to have two people from New Zealand with our team, David and Linda. I had a great time talking with them, especially since I love to talk and robotics is just one of those things I love to talk about, but also because they were fun to talk with (great senses of humor!) Having them with us and explaining everything FIRST to them was amazing because it felt like I was seeing my first Championship all over again.

If their representatives are any indication (and they usually are) we are going to see great things from New Zealand!

Heidi

Re: New Zealand Regional
 

Of course we will. But the bad news is...I'm about 95% sure the regional will be limited to New Zealander or Aussie teams for a while. But I would not be surprised if 1574 or any of the Israeli teams go.

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I would actually be extremely surprised. Getting the funds for ATL is hard enough for Israeli teams (about 1500$ per student). Israel and New Zealand are almost on opposite sides of the planet. The fastest way to get there would be through 3 different flights and a minimum transit time of 24 hours (about 20 hours of flights). I don't think it is going to happen...:rolleyes:

Re: New Zealand Regional
 

Some students at my school are going to Japan this year. I wanted to go, but the cost would have been $2500 and $1500 is just airfare! It is very ridiculous!! Plus there would have been a refund at the end of the trip for money not spent, probably $200!

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Call me a pessimist, but I really agree with Dave here: with the amount of money that it would cost to send a drive team and two adult mentors to New Zealand, you could instead fund two new rookie teams at nearby schools!

On Friday, I had the opportunity to sit down with some of the Kiwis that were with guests of team 254. They were great people, very enthusiastic, and they were happy to be paired with such a nice team. We chatted, and I wished them the best of success in getting FIRST started in New Zealand. I think it's great that another country is starting to ride the FIRST bandwagon...

...but it's my own opinion that if one of our key missions is to try to bring engineering and inspiration (via access to FIRST) to as many people as possible, there are a lot more efficient ways to do so with the money that we have.

I don't want to redirect your priorities -- if you have your heart set on exploring the world and having your team get to meet wonderful people from across the globe, and affect another country, I think it's a noble idea, and it can change the lives of your students more than just competing in local events.

For me, however, I think that if the goal of our program is to try to change the culture, part of that is being more efficient with our resources. I'm sorry if this sounds like flamebait or hypocritical, especially because we do multiple events ourselves, but when the dollar figures started showing up on the screen, I had thought about what sort of local impact could be made with that money, it just blew my "be quiet and let it go" gasket.

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if he bets more money... I'll stay.
:D

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I wouldn't trust his money; I've seen the "100 dollar bills" that they hand out. :rolleyes:

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Good timing - It's sooo much cheaper to fly from the mainland to NZ w/a Hawaii "stop over". Not too much jet lag and time to enjoy the cultures.

And BTW: NEVER pay retail. EVER.

Every team should have an IRS nonprofit status or partnership with an organization that does. Why go through the costs and headaches to be recognized as an IRS nonprofit? Because you never pay retail. EVER.

Nonprofit status gives your team so much leverage. Cost too high and the vendor won't reduce the cost? How about an "in kind" donation. Tickets cost $1,000/pp round trip? -- A $200/pp in kind donation reduces your cost 20%, they get the $200/pp as a tax write off, and your trip is now within reason.

If you are really, really, really smart, you don't even bring up the non profit status until you've cried, begged, cajoled and spoken to everyone in the vendor's organization and already gotten the price reduced at least 10% - 15%.

By the time they've given you the "FIRST" discount, the vendor should know all about your team and the wonderful work your team is/will/has been doing. Then ask for an in kind donation. You would be surprised how easy it is and how much your vendor wants to help. You just have to ask and be prepared.

Those of you that have other FRC teams nearby are so fortunate. Just by shear numbers alone you can get your costs reduced if you coordinate travel plans and dates w/another local team.