When it comes to climate resilience, Auckland Council knows that building stronger pipes and drains is only part of the battle; the rest half lies in the creativity and determination of its people. That belief was put to the test at Solve It 2025, a week-long innovation challenge that gave students a chance to rethink how the city could prepare for future floods.
Hosted by the University of Auckland in partnership with Eden Park and AA Insurance, the challenge posed a simple but urgent question:
“How would you stay ahead of the next flood?”
The answers were anything but ordinary.
Instead of the usual “grey infrastructure” fixes, teams dreamed up ideas ranging from VR flood simulations for community centres—helping families visualise what might happen to their homes—to floating platforms designed to keep cars safe during flash floods.
For Auckland Council, which supported the event through mentoring, the true value wasn’t just the ideas, but the fresh perspective.
“We need more of these youth-driven solutions if we’re to achieve meaningful change,” said Nancy Baines, Senior Flood Risk Specialist at Auckland Council and the programme’s only external mentor.
“What I saw was a generation ready to tackle climate change head-on.”
The challenge deliberately avoided narrow briefs, giving students freedom to combine science with imagination. Supported by tools like Council’s Flood Viewer, the teams impressed mentors with their quick grasp of stormwater issues—and their ability to think differently.
The winning team, Team Fireant, proposed a novel solution: sustainable urban drainage with high-performance soil mixes for road verges in flood-risk areas, enhanced with IoT sensors to monitor saturation levels. Their design doubled as a communication tool, with kerb redesigns and a traffic-light-style warning system to help neighbourhoods act together when water levels rise.
“It was a big dream solution,” Baines explained. “It may face technical barriers, but what inspired me was that it wasn’t just about soil—it was about giving communities the information they need to respond as one.”
For the students, the experience was transformative.
“At first, I thought I already had the solution,” said participant Himani Nishi. “But I learned how important it is to understand what people are really experiencing, not just what you think they need. It completely changed how I approach problem-solving.”
In the end, Solve It 2025 wasn’t just about flood resilience. It was about equipping young people with the skills, empathy, and urgency needed to confront climate change.
“This is about building a flood-resilient Auckland, but also about preparing the next generation to lead us through tomorrow’s climate challenges,” Baines said. “Council can’t do it alone—we need their creativity, their urgency, and their courage.”
