"Trap designs from all over Northland were entered into this year's competition. Our three judges were experienced professional predator trappers from Bream Head Conservation Trust, Pukenui Western Hills Forest Trust and the Kiwi Link Community Pest Control Area,'' she said.
''The judges commented on the massive leap in trap innovations this year and were really impressed with the calibre of entries. Xeryus' 'Capture the Rat' design won first place and his 'Smarter Predator Trap' won second place. Both designs wowed the judges with the impressive thinking, technological innovation and humane kill aspects of the traps."
Kiwi Coast sponsored the competition for the second year running, and presented Xeryus with a voucher for $500 worth of pest control products. Bunnings sponsored the second prize of a $50 Bunnings Voucher and gift vouchers for two other high school finalists: Glen Keogh and Jack Haverkort.
Competition organiser Shirley Peterson said: ''It's amazing to see young minds grappling with pest control technology and using their imaginative engineering skills to come up with fresh ideas that may be put to use in the field to help us reach the aspirational goal of a predator free New Zealand."