The New Zealand Brain Bee Challenge is the New Zealand stream of an annual neuroscience competition for Year 11 students. The Australasian Neuroscience Society runs and funds the challenge with Education Perfect, while the University of Auckland Centre for Brain Research has delivered the New Zealand program since 2007.
Students begin with a supervised online quiz at school. High scorers may advance to a regional final, one winner from each New Zealand island proceeds to the online national final, and the New Zealand champion can advance to the International Brain Bee.
Benefits & funding
- Participation is free; the Australasian Neuroscience Society funds the event.
- Education Perfect provides the assessed Round 1 study material.
- Regional finalists may be invited to a university or research-institution day with neuroscience activities, subject to the regional coordinator.
- At the 2026 North Island event, the top ten students received one-day Neurological Foundation Brain Bee Internships for the September school holidays, and nine additional students received merit internships.
Eligibility
- The New Zealand stream is for Year 11 high-school students in New Zealand.
- Teachers enrol students and supervise the Round 1 assessment during school hours.
- Only students with high Round 1 scores are invited to Round 2.
- The International Brain Bee route requires winning the New Zealand national final.
- The official pages do not state a nationality, gender, age or work-experience requirement.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
Decoded from the official rules. A free account checks them against your passport, degree and age in seconds.
Residence required
New Zealand
Education required
High School
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Application process
- 1Ask a teacher to enrol you through the dedicated Education Perfect registration link.
- 2Study the Education Perfect material and complete the 40-minute Round 1 assessment under school supervision within the published window.
- 3If invited after a high Round 1 score, study the additional material and complete the regional round.
- 4If you win your island round, join the two-day online national final and its four challenges.
- 5If you become New Zealand champion, progress to the International Brain Bee.
Program timeline
Round 1 assessment window opened.
Mar 2, 2026
Round 1 assessment window closed.
Mar 31, 2026
The 2026 North Island final took place at the University of Auckland.
Jun 24, 2026