A Tauranga robotics team is gearing up for the world stage after clinching silver at the 2026 VEX Robotics National Championship.

Ōtūmoetai College’s OATs robotics team, Mecha Squad 2941H, has qualified for the VEX robotics World Championship in St Louis, Missouri, next month.

Indie Minshall, Walliam Hofsteede and Finn Montgomery will join more than 2400 teams from over 60 countries at what Guinness World Records recognises as the largest robotics competition on the planet, marking a career‑defining moment after a season of intense building, coding and competition.

The team said the qualification reflected years of dedication to the programme.

“Together, year after year, we have pushed the boundaries of our abilities, and this year we are finally one of New Zealand’s best.”

The VEX Robotics competition challenges secondary school teams to design, build and program robots to compete in strategic matches on a field measuring just over 3.5sq m

Each match includes a 15-second autonomous period where the robots run on pre-programmed code, followed by a driver-controlled period where the students operate their robots.

Teams score points by competing in game-specific challenges, which often involve manipulating objects such as rings, cubes or balls into scoring zones.

Ōtūmoetai College technology teacher Kevin Meyer said he still finds it remarkable to think of international teams reacting to their name on a line-up.

“It fascinates me that other countries will be, ‘Oh no, not them on a roster, not Ōtūmoetai College.”

The team’s robot placed second at nationals, earning them a spot at the World Championship. Photo / Supplied

This season has been the team’s strongest yet, finishing with a 38-10 record and reaching the finals at all four tournaments they attended, winning two.

This year’s nationals took place at Onehunga High School in February, leaving only two months to prepare for worlds. A short turnaround that many teams overseas won’t have to face.

The competition brought together about 80 teams and 300–400 participants in a high‑level, fully immersive robotics environment.

The team described the event as one where you throw yourself completely into robotics, surrounded by people who are as committed and engaged.

Their Nationals robot was built in just six days, a chaotic but memorable sprint carried out with very little sleep, a moment they said they can look back and be proud of.

Qualifying for the world championship is widely considered the culmination of the competition season and recognises months of design, testing and competitive performance.

Team leader Indie Minshell said competing with the New Zealand flag behind them feels like living out the dream of anyone who has ever played sports.

After Worlds, the team hoped to use their experience to mentor younger members of the club and help ensure the programme continues well into the future.

However, competing on the global stage came at a cost.

The trip was expected to cost about $7000 per student, including a $3000 registration fee, flights and accommodation.

To make the opportunity possible, the team has started a Givealittle campaign and is actively seeking sponsors to help get them to the US.

Donations can be made via their Givealittle page: https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/oats-to-vex-worlds

Zoe Blake is a multimedia journalist at the Bay of Plenty Times and Rotorua Daily Post.