TOCK has put together a special ‘Reinvent’ environmentally focussed competition for children aged 3-6 or 7-10 (2 prize groups).
TOCK, the lovable time travelling robot is on a quest to SAVE THE EARTH and needs your help.
This competition was completely free to enter for individual children aged 3-6 or 7-10 (2 prize groups). The competition closed on the 31st May 2025 with special prizes for the winning entries. Winners were judged by an independent panel and were announced on World Environment Day – 5th June 2025 – below.
Winners Announced
With so many wonderful reinventions we wish we could have given everybody a prize. We have decided to award a runner up award for each category…
Runners up
A small prize from our prize cupboard will be heading the way to the following runners up…
All 52 Amazing Entries Below
Some of the amazing entries from Tamariki in the Waitaki district…
And more amazing entries outside of Waitaki district…
Reinventing with Crayons
While exploring ideas, Neena (8) discovered that crayons take a long time to degrade and are not biodegradable. To add, she learned that between 45,000 and 75,000 pounds of broken crayons are annually thrown into landfills! That’s when she decided to give her old, broken crayons a new purpose!
First, Neena gathered old, broken crayons that had been sitting unused for a long time. She carefully peeled off the wrappers, broke them into smaller pieces, and placed them into doughnut-shaped moulds. She then baked them for a few minutes until they melted completely before leaving them to cool and solidify. The result? Bright, fun, doughnut-shaped crayons that can be used for colouring once again! Given her current love for all things doughnuts—pencil cases, rulers, pens—it was only fitting that her crayons matched too!
Giving Old Colours a New Life
Inspired to take her project further, Neena (8) experimented with another creative idea: homemade lip balm. She melted some of the crayons with coconut oil using a bain-marie method, creating colourful, non-toxic lip balms. To stay true to the Reinvent spirit, she reused takeaway sauce containers to store her new lip creations.
Through this project, Neena not only found a way to reduce waste but also discovered how fun and rewarding it is to reimagine everyday objects. She hopes her project inspires others to think twice before throwing things away—because with a little creativity, old things can have a brand-new life!
Happy Pen Picture Frame
Eddie has made a picture frame out of felt pens that have run out of ink. He made it stand up by itself. He’s very proud of his creation and pleased that the felt pens didn’t go in the bin.
