Discover the REAL World was originally created for the TVNZ NetGuide Web Challenge of 2006 by Rhys Mitchell. Who won first place out of 328 entries in the Secondary Individual category of the competition. Impressed with the overall level of quality of the websites entered into the challenge that year, the judges still needed a winner. Their comments on this website were: “original, helpful and intelligently thought through, a great website well done ”.

But it certainly took a lot to get there and win. It all started in late July, when Rhys decided he was going to enter into the competition for the fourth time. This time he was going to win. After looking into some ideas and some help from Dad, video game addiction came to mind and what a brilliant topic that would make! After countless hours of researching, designing, developing, writing, editing, polishing, and plenty of dedicated, Discover the REAL World was created. It took 2 months of almost every afternoon and weekend from start to finish to create the website.

Thankfully, it all paid off. Rhys and his Father then found themselves in the TVNZ atrium in Auckland City, Friday October 13th. After a couple of speeches from the sponsors and officials, the prize giving began. Working there way up from Primary to Secondary, it was a long, long wait. Nervously sitting near the back, the nerves were shot and anxiety had completely set in, Rhys was nervous to say the least. Third place was announced, Second place was announced...Rhys' name was no where to be found, Did he...? "First Place in the Secondary Individual category goes to Rhys Mitchell". The next few glorious moments were a complete blur for Rhys and his Father, thankfully it was all caught on camera.