TOCK – Time Travelling Robot An Environmental Charmer
TOCK, the time travelling robot, is on a mission to create a happy future for us all.
Created by wife and husband duo June and Ian Burney, TOCK is a relatable (dare we say charming?) 3D and online character who fronts their educational social enterprise. Their mission is to bring creative, engaging, transformational and impactful environmental education to pre- and primary school aged children.
“Children need solutions and hope, not problems and angst,” says June, who received a Kiwibank Local Hero Medal (part of the New Zealander of the Year Awards) in 2023. The Lincoln-based organisation was also bestowed with the People’s Choice Award and the Gold Award for Environment and Sustainability by the Selwyn District Council the same year.
The imaginative robot character TOCK, who in real life is created out of recycled materials but also exists as a computer generated model, inspires the next generation to care for the planet by reducing waste and saving energy. Young children get to meet TOCK through school visits, workshops, competitions, and stories.
June explains that the early education focus of TOCK is designed to reach children at the time when their worldview is still forming; the aim is to instil values of environmental stewardship from a young age. The intention is to create an intergenerational impact: it’s intended that the children’s newfound passion for taking care of the earth will flow on to parents and the broader community. Children’s interactions with the robot have translated into tangible actions, says June, such as picking up litter or choosing eco-friendly modes of transportation. This, she says, also results in a sense of pride among teachers and parents as they witness the children’s positive change.
Online games, competitions and activities have extended the reach of TOCK, especially during the COVID lockdowns. TOCK is known as far afield as the UK and has interacted, so far, with more than 200 NZ schools and nearly 9000 children and teachers/educators.
