Rethink climate resilience from the ground up!
Saturday and Sunday | 14-15 March 2026
About the Challenge
The Breaking Ground Challenge, delivered in partnership with Terra Nova, E Tipu and UC Business School, invites tertiary students from University of Canterbury and Lincoln University to develop bold ideas that challenge how we currently think about food and climate resilience.
The Breaking Ground Challenge invites students to challenge conventional thinking around climate resilience and explore bold, practical ideas that respond to a rapidly changing world. Rather than incremental fixes or surface-level solutions, this Challenge encourages participants to question assumptions, rethink systems, and imagine new approaches to how we live, produce, and adapt in the face of climate pressures.
New Zealand offers a unique environment to prototype these ideas, a place where climate impacts are tangible, systems are connected, and innovation can be tested at meaningful scale before being taken to the world. This Challenge is not about carbon offsetting or incremental fixes, it is about breaking ground on ideas that reframe how resilience is designed, built, and sustained.
Be in to win a share of $3000 cash and in-kind prizes, meet and collaborate with new people , and make a real impact while exploring challenges across food systems and climate resilience, including:
Resilience
How communities, industries, and food systems adapt to a changing climate
Innovation
Bold ideas that challenge the status quo
Impact
Solutions that create local change and can scale globally
No experience required. Come with an open mind and a willingness to challenge what we think we know.
Why sign up?
Work in a collaborative environment.
Meet new people from a range of disciplines and expertise.
Develop your creativity, innovation, teamwork and problem-solving skills.
Build experience in creating a compelling, professional presentation.
Network with mentors and experts.
Have something awesome to put on your CV.
Enjoy FREE food throughout the Challenge!
Be in for cash prizes!
Make a real impact!
Who should sign up?
UC and Lincoln tertiary students across all faculties and degrees are welcome to take on this Challenge!
No experience or idea is needed in advance.
Do I need a team in advance?
If you already have a team that’s great and you can register as a team (5 people max.). Otherwise, we will organise a team for you. All you need to do is register!
Who is running the Challenge?
The UC Centre for Entrepreneurship, UC Business School (UCBS) and Terra Nova Foundation, are working in partnership to provide this exciting opportunity.
Key dates
Launch evening: Tuesday 10th March - 4 to 6pm - Rehua building, UC
Challenge: Saturday 14th & Sunday 15th March - 9am to 5pm - Rehua building, UC
If you have any questions, feel free to email uce@canterbury.ac.nz
Register Now – Limited places available - Applications close Sunday 8 March.
More information about the Challenge
The Breaking Ground Challenge invites students to challenge conventional thinking around climate resilience and explore bold, practical ideas that respond to a rapidly changing world. Rather than incremental fixes or surface-level solutions, this Challenge encourages participants to question assumptions, rethink systems, and imagine new approaches to how we live, produce, and adapt in the face of climate pressures.
New Zealand offers a unique environment to prototype these ideas, a place where climate impacts are tangible, systems are connected, and innovation can be tested at meaningful scale before being taken to the world. This Challenge is not about carbon offsetting or incremental fixes, it is about breaking ground on ideas that reframe how resilience is designed, built, and sustained.
