The purpose of this newsletter is to connect Aotearoa's students Years 7 - 13 (and their parents) with the varied, and often free, extra-curricular (EC) opportunities which might touch upon a student's areas of interest. Join our mailing list.
click the drop-down arrow below for more details about each item
UPCOMING OPPORTUNITIES (Term 1, 2026)
Science
Elaine P Snowden Astronomy School Residency (University of Canterbury) | Science (Astronomy)
What? A fully funded five-day residential astronomy camp. Students will enjoy interactive workshops, inspiring seminars, and fun social activities as well as 2 nights at Takapō (Lake Tekapo), with a trip to UC's Mt John Observatory to explore our cosmic neighbourhood with modern astronomical instruments.
Who? Rangatahi entering Year 13 (Year 12's on a case-by-case basis) with an interest in Astronomy, Physics, or Mathematics.
When?
Applications: Open now, closing on 15 February 2026.
Takes places: April 2026.
Where? Lake Tekapo and the University of Canterbury.
Cost? Fully-funded (including travel from throughout New Zealand).
Apply as... an individual.
NZ Young Physicists' Tournament | Tags: Science (Physics)
What?
1. NZ physics tournament for high schoolers.
2. The opportunity to be selected for NZ's team to the 39th international YPT in Zurich, Switzerland.
Who? Years 11 - 13 students in NZ studying Physics.
When?
1. NZ Physics Tournament: Takes place over two days, 21 - 22 March 2026.
2. Selection for NZ's IYPT team: Video entries are due in by 14 February 2026.
Where?
1. NZ Physics Tournament: Auckland.
2. Selection for NZ's IYPT team: Nationwide, online.
Cost?
1. NZ Physics Tournament: $135 per team.
2. Selection for NZ's IYPT team: Free to apply.
Apply as...
1. NZ Physics Tournament: A group, from your school.
2. Selection for NZ's IYPT team: An individual.
Environment & the Outdoors
Untouched World Foundation: outdoor programmes | Environment & the Outdoors, Leadership & Community
Applications are now open for a number of fantastic expeditions in 2026 around the South Island, provided by the Untouched World Foundation.
Toitū Tōtaranui programme (Apr 2026)
Toitū Tōtaranui empowers rangatahi to take action for biodiversity, explore what thriving ecosystems on the mainland look like, and develop leadership, teamwork, and changemaker skills.
Over the course of seven days, you’ll engage with early-stage conservation efforts, hands-on fieldwork, and bold new ideas for ecosystem restoration, including concepts and aspects from te Ao Māori that connect people, whenua, and biodiversity.
Who? Rangatahi aged 16 - 25 years
When?
April expedition: Takes place 13 - 18 April 2026. Applications are now open and close on 2 March 2026, but applications will be considered and positions offered on a rolling basis.
Where? Waikawa Marae, Marlborough
Cost? Both fully-funded (free) and partially funded ($800) places are available.
Apply as... an individual.
Whakaraupō Moana programme (March 2026 & July 2026)
This is a five-day, immersive wānanga designed to grow the next generation of leaders who are connected to place, confident in themselves, and committed to a thriving future for people and planet. It brings together rangatahi from across Canterbury to explore the environmental, cultural, and social dimensions of sustainability in Whakaraupō (Lyttelton Harbour).
Who? Rangatahi aged 16 - 25 years
When?
March expedition: Takes place 23 - 27 March 2026. Applications are now open and close on 9 February 2025, but applications will be considered and positions offered on a rolling basis.
April expedition: Takes place 13- 18 July 2026. Applications are now open and close on 1 June 2025, but applications will be considered and positions offered on a rolling basis.
Where? Banks Peninsula, Christchurch
Cost? Both fully-funded (free) and partially funded ($800) places are available.
Apply as... an individual.
Leadership, Community, & Activism
Untouched World Foundation: outdoor programmes | Environment & the Outdoors, Leadership & Community
Applications are now open for a number of fantastic expeditions in 2026 around the South Island, provided by the Untouched World Foundation.
Toitū Tōtaranui programme (Apr 2026)
Toitū Tōtaranui empowers rangatahi to take action for biodiversity, explore what thriving ecosystems on the mainland look like, and develop leadership, teamwork, and changemaker skills.
Over the course of seven days, you’ll engage with early-stage conservation efforts, hands-on fieldwork, and bold new ideas for ecosystem restoration, including concepts and aspects from te Ao Māori that connect people, whenua, and biodiversity.
Who? Rangatahi aged 16 - 25 years
When?
April expedition: Takes place 13 - 18 April 2026. Applications are now open and close on 2 March 2026, but applications will be considered and positions offered on a rolling basis.
Where? Waikawa Marae, Marlborough
Cost? Both fully-funded (free) and partially funded ($800) places are available.
Apply as... an individual.
Whakaraupō Moana programme (March 2026 & July 2026)
This is a five-day, immersive wānanga designed to grow the next generation of leaders who are connected to place, confident in themselves, and committed to a thriving future for people and planet. It brings together rangatahi from across Canterbury to explore the environmental, cultural, and social dimensions of sustainability in Whakaraupō (Lyttelton Harbour).
Who? Rangatahi aged 16 - 25 years
When?
March expedition: Takes place 23 - 27 March 2026. Applications are now open and close on 9 February 2025, but applications will be considered and positions offered on a rolling basis.
April expedition: Takes place 13- 18 July 2026. Applications are now open and close on 1 June 2025, but applications will be considered and positions offered on a rolling basis.
Where? Banks Peninsula, Christchurch
Cost? Both fully-funded (free) and partially funded ($800) places are available.
Apply as... an individual.
Youthweek 2025 | Leadership & Community
What? Grants of up to $1,000 are available to young people for hosting Youth Week events.
Who? Students Years 9 - 13
When? Grant applications are open now and close 15 March 2026. Youth Week takes place 18 - 24 May 2026.
Where? Grant-funded events can take place anywhere (can be the student's school, library, swimming pool, park, online, or other community area).
Cost? Free to apply.
Apply as... an individual or a group.
This is a great opportunity for young people to demonstrate & grow their skills in leadership, initiative and event-planning.
Youth week have funded a wide range of events in their time. Events can be anything from hosting an online hui with a group that feel isolated in their region and sending kai to their houses, it can be running a volleyball tournament at the local park, flight stimulation experiences, free swimming classes, movie nights, art installments, bbq hangs, learning about the moana and its stories followed by diving and fishing, market place, comedy nights, to all sorts.
Youth Councils - General Membership | Leadership, Community, & Activism
Applications are now open for a couple more youth councils across New Zealand.
All regional councils in New Zealand have their own youth council, all with different application/recruitment timelines. As 2026 applications open for each youth council in New Zealand, they will be posted in this newsletter.
Being a part of a youth council is an excellent opportunity to:
Grow skills in leadership, public speaking, communication, finance, and more.
Gain training opportunities in areas that interest you.
Build experience for your CV and future mahi.
Form lasting friendships and connections.
Deepen your understanding of diverse communities and perspectives.
Napier Youth Council 2026
Who? Young Napier residents aged 12 - 18.
When? Applications close 14 January 2026.
Where? Napier.
Cost? No cost.
Apply as... An individual.
Rangitīkei Youth Council 2026
Who? Young Rangitīkei residents aged 15 - 24.
When? Applications close 6 February 2026.
Where? Rangitīkei.
Cost? No cost.
Apply as... An individual.
Mathematics
Problem Challenge (Maths) | Mathematics
What? A mathematics problem solving competition for Intermediate students in New Zealand.
Who? Students Years 6, 7 and 8.
When?
Registration is open now and will remain open until 31 March.
The exams take place between 30 April and 20 August 2026.
Where? Nationwide, online.
Cost? $20 per school plus $0.50 per child entered.
Apply as... A school. Note that participation in this competition is via school only. If you are interested as a parent or student, check whether your school intends to participate this year.
Problem Challenge has been offered to schools throughout New Zealand for the past 34 years.
Students participating in the competition attempt to answer five questions in 30 minutes on each of five problem sheets, which are done about a month apart. They do the problems individually.
Students who do well in Problem Challenge are invited to enter a final competition in October.
Arts, Culture, & Fashion
Stills | Arts (photography)
What? Stills is New Zealand's only nationwide youth photography competition for students of all ages. Students simply submit an original photograph in their desired category for selection by the judges. Thousands of dollars of prizes are up for grabs, across multiple categories and age brackets.
Who? Students Years 1 - 13 with an interest in photography.
When?
Submissions are open now and close 21 January 2026.
Where? Nationwide.
Cost? Free to enter.
Apply as... an individual.
Day One Filmmaking Challenge | Arts (film)
What? A filmmaking competition for young New Zealanders.
Who? Students of all ages with an interest in filmmaking.
When?
Round 1 Submission date: 16 March 2026, 12pm
Round 2 Submission date: 27 July 2026, 12pm
Awards: November.
Where? NZ nationwide.
Cost? Free to participate.
Apply as... An individual or a group.
The Day One Film Challenge is about giving young people a shot at filmmaking. There are multiple categories and genres, including awards for age brackets (Under 11, Under 14, Under 18).
It's more than just a film competition: it's a creative support system from Day One NZ, and a great chance for students of all skill levels to flex their creative muscles.
NZCT Chamber Music Contest | Arts (music)
What? The largest chamber music event for high schoolers of its kind in New Zealand.
Who? Groups of students Years 7 - 13.
Where? Regionals take place throughout New Zealand.
When? Registrations are open now and close April 2026.
Regional rounds take place in June 2026.
National Finals take place in August 2026.
Cost? $20 per student per entry, up to a maximum of $100 per group.
Apply as... A group of 3 - 8 students.
The NZCT Chamber Music Contest is the largest and longest running chamber music event of its kind in the country and each year provides the opportunity for thousands of secondary school students to perform together and enjoy the thrill of making music. Groups of 3 - 8 students can enter either the Instrumental Performance category, or the Original Composition category, or both.
The contest is made up of three parts, starting with the District Rounds happening across 14 centres throughout the country, progressing through to the three Regional Finals from which eight ensembles are then chosen to proceed to the National Finals.
Hokonui Fashion Design Awards | Arts (fashion)
What? A competitive platform for young, amateur fashion designers in NZ to showcase their designs.
Who? All students Years 1 - 13.
When? Entries open in February 2026. The awards event is TBC.
Where? Participation is available to students nationwide. The awards take place in Gore.
Cost? Free.
Apply as... An individual
The Hokonui Fashion Design Awards are an opportunity for Kiwi amateur fashion designers, from primary school age all the way up, to showcase their creativity and talent.
2025 marks the 37th anniversary of the Hokonui Fashion Design Awards - a significant achievement as the longest running fashion design awards of their type in New Zealand. Over the previous years the judging panel has included Karen Walker, Nic Blanchet, Francis Hooper, Trelise Cooper, Kate Sylvester, Liz Findlay, Doris Du Pont and Margi Robertson (of NOM*d).
There are a wide variety of awards for different categories and age divisions.
TOI Wearable Arts Contest | Arts (fashion)
What? Wearable arts competition for kiwi students.
Who? All students.
When?
Registration is open now and will remain open until 2 April 2026.
Deadlines for costume submissions are 23 April 2026 (South Island and Northland) and 14 May 2026 (rest of North Island).
Regional events run from 12 May to 29 June 2026.
Where? Events take place in up to 11 regions across NZ: Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Hawke's Bay, Manawatū, Wellington, Nelson, Canterbury, Otago and Southland.
Cost? Free to apply. If selected, $25 fee to attend your regional event.
Apply as... An individual or in a group.
TOI is run in collaboration with World of Wearable Art (WOW). It is an opportunity for students across Aotearoa to express their creativity by creating an imaginative wearable art garment that tells a story, either solo or in groups.
Students exhibit their creations at Showquest regional events, which run in May/June throughout the country.
Prizes include a trip to the WOW show in Wellington, Bernina sewing machines, WOW prize packages and more.
Problem-solving, Innovation, & Business
None this month - check back next month.
Technology & Computer Science
None this month - check back next month.
Writing & Literature
None this month - check back next month.
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