The NZYP National Tournament supports the team to represent NZ at the International Young Physicists’ Tournament. In 2027 this will be held in Auckland, Aotearoa, New Zealand

The team selection process is seperate and has two stages. It will be completed BEFORE the schools’ team tournament.takes place.

NB: Representative team members must be New Zealand Citizens or Permeant Residents.

Students wanting to be considered for a place on the New Zealand team MUST register their interest here. This signs them up to receive the instruction emails about the team selection process that WILL NOT BE PUBLISHED elsewhere. From the New Year, there will be a series of five weekly newsletter to support students preparing to enter a video. The contents will, at the appropriate time, include the assessment rubric and details of how to make their video entry.

Stage 1 is a video competition open to all students who meet the residency requirement AND are enrolled in a recognised NZ secondary education establishment. that may be a state school, a private school, registered home schooled and Te Kura.

Stage 2 is a residential camp that will present new problems to be investigated in an environment similar to the IYPT tournament.

The Video competition

Students must make a 12 minute video of their best solution to one of the seven NZ problems. The format is similar to the presentation they would make in the school tournament. They must upload it (instructions supplied) before February 17th 2027. NB: this is before the national team competition.

Late entries cannot be considered. It is preferable, but NOT essential, that students then take part in the national tournament as part of a school or club team. This will allow students to experience the competition and give them opportunities to practice.

The results of the video competition will be announced on February 21st. Up to 16 students, those who score most highly on the assessment rubric, will be invited to participate in the stage two residential camp. All students will be informed of their result. Preferably this will be by phone, but if we cannot contact them, it will be by email at 8pm on February 21st.

The Residential Camp

The selection camp will take place over the weekend of February 27th and 28th. Full details will be shared with those students invited. It is a residential even if the student lives nearby and a $250 plus GST fee is charged to contribute towards costs. The camp venue will be announced in the new year.

At the camp all students will:

• Share a twin room or dormitory room with another student
• Have all meals and snacks supplied from Lunch on Saturday 27th to Lunch Sunday 28th
• Take part in a whole camp social activity
• Work in teams on a new IYPT problemThi scould be any past problem or one of those NOT selected for the 2027 New Zealand national competitions.
• Have a twenty minute face-to-face invterview with Trustees and teachers that “opposes” thier video entry to check their understanding of teh physics presented and assessthe quality of the exepriment and data handling.

The five New Zealand Representative team members will be selected from their overall performance at the residential camp. This includes team work, listening skills, problem solving, self-confidence, science communication skills, and their ability to think on their feet in order to express physics concepts without external reference, as well as their physics knowledge and ability to apply it appropriately.

Being a member of the New Zealand team is a significant commitment which is explained in depth to students, and their parents, before team membership can be confirmed. Significant preparation time is needed and attendance at key events is compulsory. Camp venues are chosen to minimise travel so the first two camp venues will only be agreed once the team is confirmed. The Trust will pay for out of town team members travel, meals and accomodation. Travelling students are also welcome to stay with friends or whanau with parental permission.

Training dates for 2027 will be announced in August 2026

Team members will have to contribute to the cost of travel to the international competition. NZYPT expects, but cannot guarantee, to subsidise this cost. We have for many years received a grant from the progressing, of Education and have other sponsors. We will also help students with their own fundraising where we can.