In July 2014, the NZ Herald reported that Rotorua principals are all for going solar! This progressive attitude was certainly on display as PTC Trust held its solar-powered workshop at Rotorua Intermediate. The benefits of solar power for money saving on power bills are a boost for freeing up funds. At that time, the article reported that ‘John Paul College principal Patrick Walsh said ‘he would definitely be on board with outfitting his school with solar panels. Having solar heating would reduce our power bill dramatically, freeing up some of that $100,000 to be spent on education’. Rotorua Lakes High School principal Bruce Walker agreed, saying the school power bills "cost a fortune, especially in the winter months’.

Rangatahi spent the day learning about the advantages of solar power and the value of NZ investing in all forms of renewable energy. They were enthusiastic as they explored and described what NZ’s future would look like as we implemented solar-powered energy across Aotearoa.