The 2025 National Fieldays was another incredible experience for Year 13 Design Technology student Maddie Foote, who showcased her project, “The Shear Space,” in the Innovation Hub to a widely appreciative audience. 

This year marked Maddie's second foray into the Innovation Hub, with a significant evolution from the original "Wool Be Studying" concept pod exhibited in 2024.

The Shear Space is a naturally soundproofed environment designed as a quiet retreat to learn, work, and breathe, offering focus and tranquillity. It is an acoustic pod that is 100% sustainable, featuring 100% NZ Strong Wool for superior acoustic insulation, a unique Birch Plywood Frame, and a flat-pack kitset design.

The Innovation Hub at Fieldays has a reputation as a prime venue for showcasing cutting-edge innovations in New Zealand's primary industries. To be selected is not only a prestigious honour but also offers an inspiring, empowering, and future-facing platform for participants.  For Maddie, there have been so many highlights from this project and rich learning journey, and to name a few standouts:
 

• Successfully getting The Shear Space to and from Fieldays with the help of a very dedicated support crew was a significant undertaking!

• Meeting Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, who commended her advocacy for the versatility of NZ strong wool as a high-performance, modern material for design and innovation.

• Mark Patterson, NZ First MP, Minister for Rural Communities and Associate Minister for Agriculture, taking a seat in The Shear Space and experiencing its naturally calming environment.

• A Highly Commended Award and special judges' mention for excellence, praising Maddie and noting, "The project shows great promise from a young inventor with a passion for wool and architecture, blending a peaceful environment with sustainable NZ materials."

Maddie's Digital Technology teacher, Samantha Overweel added, "We're so incredibly proud of Maddie's hard work, resilience, and problem-solving skills throughout the design and construction of The Shear Space. The positive feedback from the Fieldays Innovation  Hub reinforces the value and impact of her work."       
 

The Shear Space isn't just a project; it's an innovation that supports New Zealand's wool industry, showcasing the versatility of our wool as a high-performance, modern material.     

Kia Kaha Maddie! We can't wait to see what you achieve next!  

Article added: Monday 23 June 2025