Sky not a limit, just an export chance

By LIBBY MIDDLEBROOK and SUSAN JENNISON

An Auckland company is sending overseas school children to the stars.

Pipehenge Services has just exported almost $30,000 worth of its New Zealand-designed astronomy equipment to the United States, where it will be used to teach school children about the galaxy.

"In the past we've really focused on the New Zealand market for the benefit of school children, but overseas export opportunities make the business far more sustainable," said company spokesman and designer Eric Jackson.

Pipehenge Services manufactures metal jungle gyms called Pipehenges which teach children about the movement of planets, how to locate celestial objects and how to use compasses for orienteering and navigation.

A collection of New York-based schools placed six $US2500 ($4800) orders for Pipehenges after hearing about them through the New York Science Teachers' conference late last year.

Mr Jackson, who attended the conference, developed the Pipehenge concept while working as a science curriculum adviser to schools in the mid-1980s.

A lack of practical equipment to teach children about astronomy prompted him to come up with the system.

"Astronomy has always tended to be a bookish affair with kids making models, but they haven't had the opportunity to do a lot of hands-on activities."

About 100 frames have already been installed in New Zealand schools at a cost of $2000 a Pipehenge and further offshore orders have come from Equador, Columbia and Costa Rica.

While the company has focused on the New Zealand market for the past 10 years, Mr Jackson said a greater emphasis on overseas markets was needed to sustain the business.

"So far we really haven't concentrated on making it a profitable business. It's really been for the benefit of astronomers and school children," he said.

"But the New Zealand market's never going to repay our development costs because it's too small.

"So we really do need to get into overseas markets if it's going to have a future."