Hawke's Bay computer whiz gains perfect score

Napier teen computer genius Daniel Crabtree has fought off competition from all over Australasia to scoop first prize in a computer exam.

Daniel, aged 17, of Napier Boys' High School, received a gold medal after scoring 100 per cent in the Australasian computer-studies examination, placing him first out of 78,000 students from New Zealand, Australia and 27 other countries in the Asia and Pacific area.

Daniel, who got his first computer when he was five, came first in the New Zealand sixth form external computer-studies examination.

Part of the Napier Boys' High School accelerated programme for advanced students, Daniel came third in the sixth form external maths examination in 2000 and was in the top 5 per cent in calculus in the same year.

Napier Boys' High School principal Ross Brown said: "We are very proud of what he has done.

"A large number of staff have contributed to his success, but he is obviously a very focused and mature student, and credit has to go to him for working very hard."

This year, Daniel will attend Victoria University in Wellington, where he will go straight into the second year of a BSc honours degree in computer science and mathematics.

- HAWKE'S BAY TODAY