Pupils do quiz battle across nation

What was once a small local quiz has become become a national battle of the minds, with thousands of pupils logging on to test their knowledge.

The ODT Extra! Current Events Quiz took place yesterday, with more than 1000 teams of three participating in the online quiz.

Teams were made up of pupils of ages 8-14 and registration was open to schools from all over New Zealand.

The years 5 and 6 category was won by Avonhead Primary School No 1 (Christchurch), with Medbury Prep School No 2 (Christchurch) second and Gleniti School No 1 (Timaru) third.

The years 7 and 8 category was won by Gleniti School No 4 (Timaru), with Avonhead Primary School No 8 (Christchurch) second and Prebbleton School No 11 (Christchurch) second.

The years 9 and 10 category was won by Mt Aspiring No74 (Wanaka), with Kaikorai Valley College No 2 (Dunedin) second and Woodford House No 1 (Hawke’s Bay) third.

ODT Extra! marketing manager Jeff Paterson said the top 10 teams in each year group would join the top teams from the ODT Extra! Spelling Bee, which took place earlier this year, for the grand final at the Otago Museum in November.

The quiz was broken down into 10 rounds covering questions from local and international geography, history, current events and general knowledge, he said.

The Otago Daily Times has been running the competition since 2003, originally as a series of competitions across several regions in Otago and South Canterbury.

Earlier this year Allied Press, publisher of the ODT, teamed up with Dunedin digital educator Education Perfect to run the competition online..

Education Perfect chief operations officer Emma McAllister said the quiz provided an interactive, digital competition which was extended to those still experiencing lockdown conditions.

wyatt.ryder@odt.co.nz