Stay up-to-date with our exciting schedule of events, and relive the highlights from our past events. 

Events

Apply Now: Become a member of our 2024 exec!

![](/images/2024%20Exec%20Banner.png)

[**Apply Now**](https://signup.mechauoa.com/exec2024)


2024 MECHA EXEC

Stay up-to-date with our exciting schedule of events!

Upcoming Events

Wellness Ice Cream 2023

![](/images/Taco%20Tuesday%20(1\).png)

More details to come, stay tuned...


Department Lunch Sem 2 2023

🚀 After three gruelling years of compulsory courses, Mech/Tron students are about to break free and embark on a thrilling journey of choice — the elective courses! But hold on a second, what do these courses even teach? Are the professors as tough as they sound? And what about those assignments, could they be nastier than a wrench in the gears? 🔧

##### View our Event Recording

<iframe src="//auckland.au.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Embed.aspx?id=6b59307a-d414-4c55-af01-b09200216de0&autoplay=false&offerviewer=true&showtitle=true&showbrand=false&captions=false&interactivity=all" width="100%"  height="420vw" allowfullscreen allow="autoplay" aria-label="Panopto Embedded Video Player"></iframe>

##### Download our Electives Booklet

<iframe src="//drive.google.com/file/d/1sPoajovKuQimx-LjqgZqzBXru0d_NScn/preview" width="100%" height="800 vh " allow="autoplay"></iframe>



Elective Insights 2023

![](/images/Part%201%20Spec%20(1\).png)

Do you have an interest in mechanical or mechatronics engineering?

Are you spending hours and hours on the internet trying to figure out what mechanical or mechatronics engineering is, frantically going through the course viewer?

Don’t you worry, MECHA has got your back!

MECHA is holding a Part 1 Specialisation event for people like you, someone interested in either Mechanical or Mechatronics engineering!

We have part 2, 3, and 4 students explaining all the projects and courses in detail and some insight into career opportunities!

So check your calendars, and prepare some questions!

Time: Thursday 5th October 11-12

Location: 405-460 (engineering building level 4)

Snacks will be provided on the day!

Expression of Interest: [https://signup.mechauoa.com/part1 ](https://signup.mechauoa.com/part1)


Part 1 Spec Info Session 2023

![](/images/Pub%20Quiz.png)

🍻🧠Thirsty for Trivia? Lock September 21st into your calendar for The Annual MECHA Pub Quiz! Dive into the depths of fluid dynamics and enjoy a blend of drinks & food at The Paddington!

Start gathering your mastermind team of 8 and come up with an innovative team name – because ticket sales kick off NEXT WEEK! 🚀🔥 Aim for victory - Jägermeister prizes await the champions, not to mention heaps of other fabulous prizes waiting to be seized! 🏆🎁

Have you ever wondered what the Reynolds Number of beer going down a funnel is? Is shotgunning laminar flow or turbulent? Well, we at MECHA did a CFD analysis…  and we concluded that there are muuuchh better things to do on a Thursday, like getting hyped for another epic MECHA pub quiz! 🍻🧠

Gather your team for Thursday the 21st of September, and grab your jugs while we ask you questions - your answers getting more and more creative as the bar tab goes down. This year we will be rolling at The Paddington with food and discount drinks, our shout of the evening!

Send out the call for your teams of 8 and come up with an innovative team name! Ticket sales open THIS WEEK and you DO NOT want to miss your shot at the glory of victory! Jägermeister prizes await the champions, not to mention heaps of other fabulous prizes ready to be seized! 🏆🎁

Ticket Sales TBA


Pub Quiz 2023

![](/images/Assassin%20Week.png)

A dark cloud has fallen over the University of Auckland campus. It has been two days. So many have fallen, yet so many remain… You hear a creak and prepare to run. Your exit routes are planned. No trap can catch you. Oh… it’s just the Part I Assistance Centre setting up for their session. You try to compose yourself as they look at you, one leg on the table ready to dash.

Ever since assassin’s week started, uni has never been the same. The treacherous wait in line for the microwave. Darting glances over your shoulder as you move between lectures. They could be anywhere… You stare at the card in your hand with your target. “Who are you Jonathan Stringer????” Damn… should have gone to lectures. Some days you wonder whether all this bloodshed is worth it… but what about the prize… the glory of the victory… the procrastination of assignments… You hear footsteps coming up the stairs as you disappear into the labs…

Do you have what it takes to take out your cohort? Do you want to take your shot at the championship and put ✨“Assassin Emperor”✨ on YOUR CV?? If you would like to take up the challenge, sign up to MECHA’s Assassin Week in week 7 with the link below and show us what you’ve got!

Detailed instructions will be sent out closer to the time.

[Sign-Up](https://forms.gle/gtvR3LtYfucSN3F37)


Assassins Week 2023

![](/images/MDC%20Facebook.png)

<div style="text-align: center">### **🛠️ Unleash Your Creativity 🛠️**</div>

Brace yourselves, because it’s time for the Beca Design and Build Competition 2023, and we're about to blow you away—literally! 💨

Picture this: an entire day dedicated to innovation, teamwork, and engineering challenges, all set within the awe-inspiring backdrop of the Faculty of Engineering's wind tunnel! This is an opportunity to elevate your engineering game and put those skills to the test, without the stress of good grades. $500 prize pool to win from and no prior experience required! Your creations will be judged by our panel of industry judges. 🌪️

🗓️ Date: Friday, 8th September (Mid Sem Break)

⏰ Time: Full Day Event

📍 Location: Newmarket Campus

👥 Team Size: 3-4 Members

🥇 Prize Pool: $500 in Cash Prizes

🍔 Lunch Included

⚡ Hurry, Spots Are Limited: Exclusive opportunities like these fly by! Sign up ASAP to secure your spot in this unforgettable competition. Remember, teamwork makes the dream work, and the clock is ticking.

🔗 Claim Your Spot Now - [signup.mechauoa.com/designbuild](https://signup.mechauoa.com/designbuild)

P.S. Think about the stories you'll tell in future job interviews! 🌟


Beca Design & Build Competition 2023

![](/images/Study%20Session%20Facebook.png)

Calling all Mechanical & Mechatronics Students! 🛠️🤖 It's time to turbocharge your study game and have a blast doing it. 🎉 We're bringing you a study session like no other, where learning meets snacking, and connections are powered up!

📅 Date: Wednesday, 23rd August
⏰ Time: 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
🏢 Location: Room 423-430

What's in Store:

📝 Pomodoro study sessions to keep you focused and energized
🎈 Drop in anytime between 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM – we've got your flexible schedule covered!
Unleash your brainpower with study snacks (note: not a full lunch, but just as exciting!)
🤓 Bring your notes, questions, and a splash of enthusiasm – it's all about teamwork and acing those tests!
👋 Guess what? Even lecturers might pop in! 🤞

This isn't your average study session – it's an event where knowledge rocks, snacks roll, and connections thrive. 🎶🥳

So, rally your study buddies, grab your quirkiest stationery, and let's make studying an unforgettable adventure! 🚀📖🎒


Study Session 2023

![](/images/Scavenger%20Hunt-507f25b6.png)

## 🔍 Are you ready to unleash your inner Sherlock Holmes 🔍

We're back with an adventure that will test your wits, challenge your teamwork, and ignite your competitive spirit. 🕵️‍♂️🔐

🗓️ Date: Week 5, Tuesday-Thursday (Next Week!)

👥 Team Size: Squads of 4

🏆 1st Place: Escape Masters Escape Room Voucher

🥈 Runner Up Prizes: Munchy Mart Vouchers & Goodies

Get your detective caps on as you dive into a thrilling scavenger hunt. Gather your squad of 4 and gear up for an epic journey of clues. 🚀

📍 The Hunt: Your mission, should you choose to accept it, involves exploring various locations on campus. Gather clues, crack codes, and uncover hidden secrets to piece together the ultimate puzzle.

🔐 The Challenge: The clock is ticking! Collect clues over the three days and sharpen your problem-solving skills. Your final challenge awaits, and it's up to your team to decode, deduce, and dominate!

🏆 The Prize: Oh yes, the glory and the rewards! The top-ranking team will snatch the prestigious 1st Place prize: an Escape Masters escape room voucher. And fear not, runner-ups! Munchy Mart vouchers and delightful goodies are waiting to make your day too!

Let the scavenger hunt begin! [🔍](/about/)


Scavenger Hunt 2023

![](/images/Cocktail%20Night-a5f3b1eb.png)

Mark your calendars, 📅
And dust off your suits. 👔
Dry clean your dresses, 👗
And polish your boots. 👢
The night is upon us 🌙
Forget uni for a day, 📖
And join MECHA and CMESA,
For the viaduct Soirée! 🪩
There will be music and dancing, 💃
Nibbles will be plenty. 🍤
And how could I forget,👀
A free drink upon entry. 🥂
Celebrate the occasion, ✨
At the photo booth with a cocktail (or five). 🍹
Drinks are subsidised,
To keep our bank accounts alive💸
Doors will swing open at 7 🚪
But please don’t be late. 💨
They close again at 7:30,
And we don’t want to leave you outside the gate 😢
So what are you waiting for,
Book your ticket with the link! 🎟️
We’ll see you on the 1st of August from 7-11 ⏰
At the Lula Inn for a drink 🥂

Tickets:
$20 for members of MECHA or CMESA
$35 for non-members



TICKETS: SOLD OUT


Cocktail Night 2023

Build Night 2023

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Speed Interviews Sem 2 2023

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Cookie Decorating

![](/images/Copy%20of%20PORTS%20OF%20AUCKLAND.png)


Ports of Auckland Site Visit

![](/images/Wellness%20Bags%20S1%202023.png)


Wellness Bags 2023

![](https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/t45/1/16/1f6a8.png) Hey, you! Yeah you!! Do you like FREE food??? Of course you do!

 ![](https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/t0/1/16/1f60b.png)![](https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/t2a/1/16/1f354.png)MECHA is hosting the biannual Department BBQ for all mechatronics and mechanical staff and students!!

![](https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/t5c/1/16/1f5d3.png) Tuesday 23rd May
![](https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/t34/1/16/23f0.png) 11:30am - 12:30pm
![](https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/t2d/1/16/1f4cd.png) Level 3 Atrium (the outside area!)

Please fill out this form if you're interested in coming along so that we know how many people to cater to! ![](https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/t53/1/16/1f469_200d_1f373.png)![](https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/t74/1/16/1f468_200d_1f373.png)

 [https://forms.gle/rFoAduFTsgFa44GPA](https://forms.gle/rFoAduFTsgFa44GPA?fbclid=IwAR05gU2ILARV-553h8lpIJme4t_K14nsOlW1tPy04ZNHcIhVrWIc30ktBsE)

Can't wait to see you there! ![](https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/tf4/1/16/2728.png)


Department Lunch Sem 1 2023

Speed Interviews - Semester One - May 16th, 2023 - Engineering MDLS Seminar Rooms

![](/images/Speed%20Interview%20(1).png)

You sit down at the desk. The interviewer gives you a strange look… How were you supposed to know you shouldn’t bring a calculator to an interview?? You shuffle a bit as you try to get comfortable just as you realise you haven’t even introduced yourself! And then it happens… They ask that fateful question: “So, tell me a bit about yourself?” 

Such a simple question, yet so convoluted. “What do they mean by myself? Do they mean my past? But truly is a past all that a person is? What if I don’t remember all of my past right now? Is this all a simulation?????”.

But just as you are about to question the meaning of everything you remember you went to MECHA’s Speed Interviews! You had this existential crisis about two weeks ago at a practice interview and you already worked out the answer!

🗓️ Tuesday, 16th of May

⏰ 6PM - 8:30PM

📍 MDLS Seminar Rooms 405-344



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Speed Interviews Sem 1 2023

Annual general meeting 2023 - Leech Meeting Room

![](/images/AGM%202023-4ab42231.png)

NOTICE: Due to the state of emergency in Auckland, our AGM has been postponed to Tuesday, May 16th at 2:00 pm.

Attention all MECHA members! You're invited to the Annual General Meeting on Tuesday, May 9th at 2:00 pm in the Leech Meeting Room located in the Engineering building on level 3. This is a great opportunity to have your say on how we run things and vote on important constitutional amendments. Don't miss out on this chance to make a difference in our organization! We look forward to seeing you there and hearing your ideas.


Annual General Meeting 2023

Internship Insights 2023 - May 4th 2023 - Engineering Building 401-439

![](/images/Internship%20Insights.png)

Internship season is coming up and you know what that means! Time to dust off your resume, spruce up your LinkedIn, and start practicing your firm handshake! 💼🤝

…But then what? Where do you even begin to look? How do you even go about formatting your cover letter?!?!

Not to fear, MECHA is here! 💪Come along to our Internship Insights event, where we have students who have been there, done that, and survived! Our internship-expert panel will share their tips on how to stand out in a sea of interns, and help you navigate the internship jungle 👔🌴 You’ll get the lowdown on how to thrive in the workplace, and get all your burning questions answered!

And as always, we'll have free food to keep you fueled up and ready to conquer the interview! 🍕🌯

🗓️ Thursday, 4th of May

⏰ 6 PM onwards

📍 401-439, Engineering Building




Internship Insights 2023

Sustainability and Future Innovation - May 1st, 2023 - Engineering Building 405-336

![](/images/Sustainability%20and%20Future%20Innovation.png)

Sustainability begins with you! 🌱♻️

Get your hands dirty (in a good way!) and plant the seeds of sustainability with MECHA and ESD! Come along for a fun and eco-friendly evening to our Sustainability and Future Innovation event - we will be painting plant pots, and you’ll have a chance to plant a little herb or flower inside your magnum opus! 🌼🪴🌷

Gain valuable insights from industry professionals on how they’ve tackled sustainability challenges they’ve faced + group discussions on ideas on how to help preserve our environment and be more ecological! 🌎🌲

🗓️ Monday, 1st of May

⏰ 6PM - 8PM

📍 405-336, Engineering Building 







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Sustainability and Future Innovation

![](/images/CDC-aa2275cb.png)

Are you tired of being a mundane university student? Do you want to be a part of an amazing competition that puts your creativity and innovative mind to a test?

MECHA is planning to bring to you a conceptual case design competition. Here, teams would collaborate to solve a problem which will be judged by industry experts!!! An amazing opportunity to network and expand your skill set.

Sounds intriguing? So make sure to sign up to express your interest. You must be available for the whole day (22nd April). Your potential team members should sign up individually.

Registrations for the main event will come out later, including more specifications on the competition. You would have to specify then if you are a part of a team or want to be placed in one.

 

Join us:

🗓️ Saturday 22nd April

📍 Unleash Space

🕕 All Day (Exact time TBD)

 

Express your interest below!

 

<iframe src="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSekCwvEdAj_iBlMelRJLTLY_HYcmb8q59dWhAeYNutUOp066Q/viewform?embedded=true" width="100%" height="2134" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0">Loading…</iframe>

 

 

 

 

 


Conceptual Design Competition 2023

![](/images/Beer%20Pong-6ced68b4.png)

The room falls silent… You take a sip from your jug as you stare across the table at the single red cup in front of you. The ping pong ball still feels weirdly sticky from when your “perfect shot” landed in someone’s rum and coke. It has not been your game but it has come down to this. You look at your partner on the floor and his shot across the room. You take a deep breath, ignore air resistance and skip the free body diagram as the ball leaves your hand…

The crowd erupts! Your mate jumps from the floor to the table as you are crowned the mech/tron beer pong champions with your cohort as your witnesses!


Beer Pong 2023

![](/images/what%20is%20(1\).png)

On the 29th of March, MECHA held its annual industry panel event, “What Is?”. We invited members of the industry as well as a representative for postgraduate studies in the Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering to speak on a panel. Here they were asked questions about their respective roles and companies by attending students to gain insight into what opportunities await them once they enter the industry. Thank you to our wonderful panellists, Chinmaya Dixit, Ruby Kleyer, Raani Kelderman, and Daniel De Mel.



We are bringing together a panel of industry specialists who can show you the world of opportunity out there and answer any questions you might have about the different fields.

What is? 2023

![](/images/Wecha%20picnic-a9153272.png)


WECHA Picnic

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✨CALLING ALL PART TWO’S!! 💫

Interested in knowing more about the secret tricks of the trade for sailing through Part II? Worried about where to even start with internships?? Get the inside scoop on what this year is really like!

Join us on:

🗓️ Monday 13th March

📍 The Terraces, Engineering Building

🕕 6:00PM onwards!

Come along for a friendly and relaxed Q\&A session with those who have been through it all! Our MECHA Part III’s and IV’s are here to share their thoughts, experiences and words of wisdom ✌️😙

Hang out and enjoy donuts with your fellow part II’s 🍩🍩🍩

Sign up [here](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScy7ugeYvekPcJkkq8uD3_44wrTgY4eFufyVdo8lxbQrMUNRQ/viewform?usp=sf_link) - See you then! 🎉


Part II Welcome 2023

![](/images/Blue%20and%20Purple%20Modern%20Best%20Action%20Games%20Youtube%20Thumbnail-739b7ecf.png)

🗣️📢 Attention all Mech/Tron students!! Get excited for our Launch Night!! 🎉🎉

Kick off the year right with MECHA 2023!! Be sure to join us:

📌 WHEN: Tuesday 7th March

📍 WHERE: The Leech Study Space

⏰ TIME: 6:00PM - 8:00PM

Are you keen to mingle and meet your fellow mech/tron students? Do you like food? Are you willing to prove that you’re a Jenga master? Either way, (FREE!!) Food🍽️ games🎲 and making friends💃, we’ve got it all!

✨Why not sign up for our MECHA membership while you’re there? Makes it even better!✨

Sign up [here](https://forms.gle/Hx6QfUZUs1q8xBPW8) - Be there or be square 🥊😎 




Launch Night 2023

![](/images/Screen%20Shot%202023-02-25%20at%203.56.12%20PM.png)



On Monday the 5th of September MECHA hosted the first ever Design & Build Competition! This was a one-day competition where students designed a solution using laser-cut parts to launch a projectile accurately and effectively using only a falling weight as the energy source. 

The atmosphere was buzzing as the students walked into the MDLS at 9:00 and spotted the hardware packs on the tables. This only picked up as last of the inductions finished and every laptop opened to Autodesk inventor as plans were CAD’ed up and designs were drawn. With access to everything from drill presses to hacksaws to laser cutters the possibilities were endless! 

As the day turned from drawings to prototypes, with a Burgerfueled lunch in between, the sounds of drills and saws could be heard everywhere as the students raced the clock. Soon the judges [Andrew Campbell](https://www.linkedin.com/#),[ Andrew Jackson](https://www.linkedin.com/#),[ Tony Shi](https://www.linkedin.com/#), and[ Rebecca Lilley](https://www.linkedin.com/#) arrived and were able to walk past each table as teams frantically added the final touches to their designs.

When the demonstrations began everyone held their breath as the first payload launched. The whole day’s work had come to this point… would it fly? In no time at all that question was answered as it rained payloads for the next hour! 

Congrats to the winning team “Please Work” comprising of Junbang Liang, Nicholas Holmes and Luka Katavich, for launching their projectile an impressive 6.5m and taking home the $350 prize money! 

We were so glad to have been able to put together this first-of-its-kind event and want to say a big well done to all the students who participated! Also a big thank you to our sponsors for coming along to judge and especially to BECA, our gold sponsor, for helping MECHA put on the events we do!











BECA Design & Build Competition 2022

On the 17th of August we held our second speed interviews event for the year. This gave students a chance to undergo three quick interviews with professional members of the industry and then receive useful feedback on how they performed. It was great seeing our members interacting with the interviewers. The feedback they received will be very beneficial for their upcoming internship interviews.

![](/images/Screen%20Shot%202023-02-25%20at%203.34.02%20PM-c4041178.png)


Speed Interviews Sem 2 2022

Build Night 2022

On Wednesday the 27th of July something big happened! Something that started way back in 2018, on the same day, in the very same Neon Foyer at the front of the Engineering building. MECHA!

![](/images/IMG\_8324-fd244712.JPG)

The MECHA Five Year Anniversary was a one of a kind social event aiming at bringing together members, sponsors, supporters, staff and execs, past and present to celebrate MECHA’s foundation and development. As a club MECHA has come far from its initial launch, to now providing a large variety of educational, social and industry events!

The evening started by bringing everyone together in the Neon Foyer with food and drinks to spare! The venue was beautifully laid out with fairy lights, grazing tables and even “MECHA 5 Years” in big golden balloons. It was a great opportunity for our members to socialise as well as meet people from industry and in turn for our sponsors and supporters to connect with our members. Throughout this portion of the evening attendees could participate in a MECHA bingo to enter a raffle for spot prizes and purchase limited edition commemorative MECHA shirts!

![](/images/IMG\_8230-c9be79ca.JPG)

Once everyone had had a bite to eat, the event moved into the lecture theatre to watch the MECHA trailer used in the initial launch of the club. This was soon followed by an exciting 5 Year follow-up movie showcasing what MECHA has been up to since! After it was time for the MECHA quiz, an opportunity to see 

As a club MECHA was founded to provide an invaluable learning opportunity for its members to explore the great range of possibilities in the Mechanical and Mechatronics field and to provide a platform for people to connect; with industry and with each other. Over 5 years MECHA has changed and grown but never lost sight of this purpose which was clear as we heard speeches from past Presidents and Execs.

Thank you to everyone who attended the celebration, and cheers to many more years of MECHA!


![](/images/IMG\_8115.JPG)


MECHA 5 Year Anniversary 

That’s a wrap on our events for Semester One! We hope our Wellness Bags give you the boost you need to power through the exams.

![](/images/Screen%20Shot%202022-06-03%20at%203.41.53%20PM.png)



A big thank you to our sponsors, Beca, Jacobs, NZ Steel, Hera and Transpower for making this event possible! Another shout out to Gong Cha and Burgerfuel Queen Street for their generosity to our students.


Good luck for your exams, and we will see you next semester!



![](/images/Screen%20Shot%202022-06-03%20at%203.41.21%20PM.png)



Wellness Bags 2022

MECHA's Annual General Meeting for 2022 was a success!

Read the meeting minuites here: [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1RqYyG_AFVAK7BmB6lJXec2e12qwhVayP1vdSLgBU1AA/edit?usp=sharing ](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1RqYyG_AFVAK7BmB6lJXec2e12qwhVayP1vdSLgBU1AA/edit?usp=sharing)

Read our consitution here: [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1r1J04tvSzAB51lAc_yyKbsCC7-S59WJQ0edR-UiwSgU/edit?usp=sharing ](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1r1J04tvSzAB51lAc_yyKbsCC7-S59WJQ0edR-UiwSgU/edit?usp=sharing)

![](/images/AGM%202022-f078429d.png)


AGM 2022

![](/images/Screen%20Shot%202022-05-25%20at%206.51.10%20PM.png)

On Tuesday the 17th of May MECHA hosted the first of its bi-annual Speed Interviews.

It’s always around that time of year when internships start opening up and we all dust off the old CV that we grapple with the age old question “Tell me a bit about yourself?”. A question, so simple, yet so destructive and almost guaranteed to come up in an interview. Are we all just doomed??

Well thanks to Speed Interviews students could come in and practice their answers with engineers from a range of different companies. 
On Tuesday the 17th of May MECHA hosted the first of its bi-annual Speed Interviews.


It’s always around that time of year when internships start opening up and we all dust off the old CV that we grapple with the age old question “Tell me a bit about yourself?”. A question, so simple, yet so destructive and almost guaranteed to come up in an interview. Are we all just doomed??

Well thanks to Speed Interviews students could come in and practice their answers with engineers from a range of different companies. 






Speed Interviews Sem 1 2022

![](/images/Screen%20Shot%202022-05-17%20at%2010.41.20%20AM.png)

On Saturday 14 May MECHA had its first ever Conceptual Design Competition! In teams of four, students were given the day to brainstorm and develop a solution to an open-ended engineering question, culminating in a final presentation and one page summary to be reviewed by a panel of judges. The aim of this event was to explore the many possibilities of solutions reached to real world problems.

The focus for our question was on **sustainability** and how important this is to consider in all engineering designs. Our question for 2022 was:

**Context: **The Auckland Harbour Bridge is an iconic landmark in the Auckland skyline. Approximately 170,000 vehicles cross the bridge everyday, including 1000 buses, which carry 39 % of all people crossing during the morning peak. To combat the heavy congestion commuters face every day, the Skypath project was proposed, which would have allowed Aucklanders to cross the harbour via foot or bike, thus significantly reducing the number of cars on the bridge. A total of 51 million dollars was spent on this project before it was scrapped due to the inviability of the proposal.

Using this 51 million dollars, what solutions or technologies could have been implemented in place to successfully reduce the most number of vehicles on the Auckland Harbour Bridge?

Many thanks to Andrew from Beca and Bex from Jacobs for dedicating their time to help us judge the amazing submissions we got! And congrats to the winning team, Waterways!

If you’re up for a challenge or just need a CV booster, be sure to join us for the next one!



![](/images/Screen%20Shot%202022-05-17%20at%2010.33.14%20AM-b803839c.png)


Conceptual Design Competition 2022

In the first week of May, we had our first ever collaboration with the Women in Engineering Network (WEN) to hold the Women in Mech event, open to WEN members, MECHA members, and WEN Allies alike!

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We booked out the Cakes n Ladders cafe on Symonds St, ordered some delicious food, and opened a drinks tabs free to all attendees to order coffees, smoothies, and frappes.

Students had the opportunity to play any of hundreds of games, while chowing down on snacks and crying over assignments together. It was nice opportunity for our women engineering students to meet up with one another outside of uni. Students in earlier stages of their degree were able to ask older students about their experience and any advice they had, all whilst throwing hands at whatever game was on the table.

Some of us tried our hands at a little civil engineering - not too shabby, but probably best we stick with mech!

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Women In Mech 2022

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MECHA recently hosted its annual Internship Insights event! Many eager students were willing to learn from their peers about the ins & outs of the professional engineering industry. This year we brought together speakers from varied Mechanical & Mechatronics disciplines:

**Suvarna** is a Part 4 Mechatronics student passionate about aerospace and how we can send objects into orbit and beyond. She shared her experiences assembling components for plasma CNC machines at Kinetic Engineering and designing test rigs at Rocket Lab. 

**Hamish**  is a 4th-year Mechanical Student, with his Part IV project working with the New Zealand Kitefoilers, optimising their equipment for the 2024 Paris Olympic games. He spoke about the two very different internships he has completed at FC Boats and Mercury Energy.

**Alex** is a Part IV Mechatronics engineer. Over the past two summers, he’s had two internships, the first with a software development team at Navico and the second with a process engineering team at Fisher & Paykel Healthcare.

**Adi**, a Part 4 Mechanical engineering student, shared his experience at NZ Dishwasher and WSP during his degree. With one being a hands-on job in the field and the other working was at in a corporate office, he shared the similarities and differences from his contrasting internships.

The event started with each speaker introducing their personal experience hunting for and working at their internships. We then went into a Q\&A panel, where audience members were free to ask questions to any of the speakers! Finally, we finished off with sushi, drinks, and a bit of networking.

A big thanks to all the speakers for presenting at our event, and everyone else who attended! Overall the event was a success; we hope to see you at Internship Insights 2023!

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Internship Insights 2022

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Let me paint the scenario. You’ve picked your specialisation… 5 minutes before the deadline \*phew\*. Mechanical… or was it Mechatronics? No time to remember, there are window washer projects to wing and quizzes to do. Is this what your career is going to be like? Forever? What is even out there??

Lucky for you MECHA brought together a panel of industry experts for “What Is?”, an event to show you the world of opportunity out in the field of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering and to reassure you that there are no weekly quizzes.

This year we had five amazing panellists from a range of different industry fields. They spoke about their experience and projects and answered some key questions like “What advice would you give to young professionals starting out?”. We really appreciated all the advice from our speakers and learnt a lot about what is out there and we hope you did too. However, if you couldn’t make the event fear not! Below is a video recording of the event and some recaps of our speakers and what engineering in their fields look like:

**John Welford** – Systems Engineer

John is a systems engineer and lead of the Rail Systems Engineering team at WSP. He has a background in a variety of industries, including Defence and Automotive. John explained that systems engineering is a field that adds an extra layer of rigour around typical engineering processes by looking at the big picture of the entire system and ensuring that all the individual engineering solutions are linked up into a cohesive whole.

**Aathira Nair** – Industrial Engineer

Aathira is a Mechanical Engineer working in the Beca Industrial team. She has worked on projects in a variety of industries including water, food, pulp and mining. “Like a normal engineer, but cooler” is the description that came to mind when she took us through what Industrial Engineering was all about. “Industrial engineering is concerned with the design, improvement and installation of integrated systems of people, materials, equipment and energy.”

**Sian Phillips** – Robotics Engineer

Sian is a Mechatronics Engineer with 8+ years of experience in the New Zealand robotics industry working in R\&D for Crown Equipment. Robotics is all about taking sensors, actuators, software and computing units and combining all of them to create a robotic system. Her work mainly focuses on using robotic systems to implement automation processes for Crown’s fleet.

**Mike Horrell** - Sustainability Engineer

Mike has extensive experience in sustainability and product development engineering and currently works as a life cycle assessment specialist at Thinkstep-anz. Mike spoke about sustainability engineering and how there is a great focus on assessing the impacts of products and services engineers design through life cycle assessments and various other metrics to ensure that solutions are created with the bigger sustainability picture in mind.

**Chad Wheeler** – Process Engineer

Chad has worked at Fisher and Paykel Healthcare for 12 years, and is currently an engineering manager. He has machine design, manufacturing and project management experience. His current work is in managing a team of engineers developing the assembly processes necessary to create a humidifying chamber for F\&P Healthcare, which has been especially important in the current pandemic.

**You can watch the full What Is? here:**

[https://auckland.zoom.us/rec/share/jC4VorwS_UZwGzG9xfrIv\_9Pp3jeByLIw7ngVpHT_RD35LvjCpvG1Xz7pnB90osy.k\_4tqFOKl69o9Zw8](https://auckland.zoom.us/rec/share/jC4VorwS_UZwGzG9xfrIv\_9Pp3jeByLIw7ngVpHT_RD35LvjCpvG1Xz7pnB90osy.k\_4tqFOKl69o9Zw8?fbclid=IwAR0MLhrjq3l8xwGU8PPnQLJy8IvrHRDZTHlGPT67Pi3Dya6s4cM3GDHASqk)

Passcode: **xg5\*1bF0**

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What Is? 2022

In March we had our Part II Welcome, a free social event open to all second year mechanical and mechatronics students!

With various board and card games set up on tables, along with plenty of pizza, drinks and snacks, students were able to meet new people and bond over games (or their shared coursework induced stress). It was a great opportunity to make new friends and establish study groups, and was the first for many given that classes thus far were all online. Seeing as we received lots of positive feedback, we're looking to run more social events in sem 2 - stay tuned!

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Events - MECHA UoA