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Great Balls of Blue

Technological innovation and sound business sense saw St Oran's College, in Lower Hutt, win the 1993 Aoraki Awards in Innovation for the development of a new form of laundry powder.

The Great Balls of Blue Company run by the students undertook a series of experiments to determine the most practical and cost-effective method of binding laundry concentrate into solid, golf-ball-sized balls and manufacturing these. The solid form reduces waste and is easier to dispense. Kylie Ellison, managing director of the school company, says that established laundry detergent manufacturers dismissed the concept, saying that "if it could be done, we would have done it".

The students are now involved in discussions with a local firm concerning the future marketing of their product.