Innovative cooking stove to reduce health issues

Innovative cooking stove to reduce health issues in Pacific Islands

An Otago Polytechnic student has developed an efficient cooking stove which he hopes will reduce chronic health issues in the Pacific Islands.

Bachelor of Engineering Technology student John Eteuati will unveil his Biomass Wood Fuel Cooking Oven-stove this Thursday, October 31 at an Otago Polytechnic Pasifika ceremony in Dunedin.

“The stove has several benefits,” says Mr Eteuati. “Its design will optimise burning efficiency, drastically reducing the amount of wood fuel required, and the emission of harmful gases and smoke produced through traditional methods of open fire cooking.

“As a result, forest resources will be managed more sustainably and air quality will improve significantly, leading to a reduction of inhalation-related health risks.”

The third-year student received Otago Polytechnic funding for his project, successfully creating a prototype he hopes to manufacture for Pasifika communities.

“It involves minimal capital cost, will be adaptable to various situations and is simple to operate and maintain,” says Mr Eteuati. “Most importantly, the construction can be carried out locally using conventional building materials, so there is little social impact on traditional Pacific life where cooking plays such a major cultural role.”

Originally from Samoa, Mr Eteuati’s dream has been to further strengthen the close relationship between Otago Polytechnic and wider Pasifika communities. He will be gifting his project outcome to his church community, Ekalesia Faapotopotoga Kerisiano Samoa (EFKS) Dunedin, with the hope that it will attract the interest of Pasifika communities in Dunedin.

During the ceremony, Otago Polytechnic Acting Chief Executive Matt Carter will officially handover the project to the EFKS community.

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