Twelve teams, each comprising four year 7 and 8 pupils, had their problem-solving and technological know-how skills tested in the EPro8 Challenge.
Organiser Kelvin Thiele said it was the first time the competition which ''let kids compete at what they did best'' had been run in Dunedin.
''Teams choose what challenges to complete.
''So it is different to traditional tests where you get a big cross beside your name if you don't answer something.''
During a two-and-a-half-hour period pupils created gadgets such as a windpower crane, pinball machine and model theme park using aluminium framing, electronics and motors.
The challenge had been held at schools across the North Island for the past two years and the calibre of pupils who competed was continuing to improve, Mr Thiele said.
''There are certainly some kids where you go 'wow that's cool what you are doing'.''
Kaikorai Valley College science teacher Ruth Eley said other year 7 and 8 pupils and year 9 pupils at the school had a technology workshop with Mr Thiele during his visit.
It encouraged pupils to work in teams to solve real-world problems using science and maths, she said.
