A 17-year-old entrepreneur whose business selling ice blocks to students at school was shut down by the Board of Trustees has been inundated with support from the wider community.
Lennox Goodhue-Wikitera told his story on 1News last week and it’s since gone viral on social media.
In 2021, the Kaitaia College student began selling Juicies at school over the summer after the canteen closed down.
While he initially received the support of the school, the then 15-year-old was forced to stop by the school board, citing rules around selling for profit, as well as health and safety concerns.
The now Year 13 student gave it another shot in 2023, selling the cool treats under a fundraising umbrella. However, he was forced to stop again – despite donating around $3000 to the school – after his financial records revealed he was paying himself a wage.
Finance Minister Nicola Willis last week posted his story to social media, writing, “Go Lennox! He sounds like exactly the kind of go-for-growth entrepreneur New Zealand needs.”
Willis is now planning to meet the teenager in the Far North.
“I’m really looking forward to meeting him. He’s got such a go-getter attitude,” she said.
“We need more New Zealanders who want to make it happen, who want to be entrepreneurial. I think if New Zealand has young people like Lennox who have got great ideas and they pursue them then there’s so much more we can achieve so I thought ‘good on ya, keep it up. You’re going to go far’.”
Tasman Bay Food Co, which makes the Juicies, were also impressed with the student’s go-getter spirit. They’ll be flying Lennox to their Nelson-based factory for a visit after co-owner Martyn Barlow saw the student’s story on Facebook.
“He’d showed a little bit of initiative and enterprise and I was a little bit disappointed that he’d been curtailed,” Barlow said.
Lennox Goodhue Wikitera had been selling Juicies at Kaitaia College after the canteen closed. (Source: 1News)
He said he wanted to help the schoolboy “keep his activities going up there at Kaitaia College”, adding that Lennox was a “very clever young man” who “needs to be encouraged”.
“I was thinking to myself, ‘This kid’s got more than doing just a fundraiser at Kaitaia College’ so I thought I’ll bring him down to Nelson.”
He’ll be shown around and see how Juicies are made.
The schoolboy said he was humbled and overwhelmed by everyone’s support.
“Kaitaia College has been taking a little bit of a hammering but that’s mainly towards the Board of Trustees. I would like to shout out to our awesome principal, Louise Anaru, and all the amazing teachers and students that have supported me.”
Anaru said they were “so proud of him” and his fundraising efforts.
Kaitaia College said it has several market days each year where students are allowed to sell and make a profit at the school.
Lennox will be allowed to sell his ice blocks on approved days under supervision and the condition that all profits go back to the school.
