- FOR
-
ABOUT
- The University
- Programmes and courses
- Admission and enrolment
- Learning and teaching
- Research
- Perspectives
- International Strategy
- Māori ki Tāmaki Makaurau | Māori at the University
- Pacific at the University
- Equity at the University | Te Ara Tautika
- Giving to Auckland
- Careers at Auckland
- News, events and notices
University Challenge
University of Auckland students put their knowledge to the test on New Zealand television.

University Challenge, the general knowledge contest among New Zealand universities, has returned with a brand new series screening on Prime. Each week, rival universities across the country will match wits to see who has superior general knowledge and the ultimate mental dexterity.
University Challenge screens on Prime TV, Saturdays at 7pm. Check out the University Challenge Facebook page for more information or Sky TV for past episodes.
Meet the team
Alistair Kendrick

Hometown: Auckland.
Currently studying: Postgraduate diploma in biological sciences.
Strongest subjects: History, geography, science, classics.
Hobbies: Debating, scouts, skiing, quizzes.
Fun fact: I'm a member of the current national pub quiz champion team.
Sana Oshika
Hometown: Born in Tokyo, Japan. Raised in West Auckland.
Currently studying: Final year BSc in Computer Science.
Strongest subjects: Literature, science, the periodic table.
Hobbies: Cooking, films, scuba diving.
Fun fact: I've had lunch with one of the co-creators of Tetris.
Hemanth Nair
Hometown: Auckland.
Currently studying: BA (Hons) in politics.
Strongest subjects: History, politics, modern literature.
Hobbies: Posting inspirational quotes on Facebook so as to brighten everyone's day.
Fun fact: I collect mispronunciations of my name. 'Hammond', as in the organ, being my favourite.
David Parfitt
Hometown: Auckland.
Currently studying: Graduate Diploma in History and English.
Strongest subjects: History, art history, music.
Hobbies: Socialism, cricket, wine.
Fun fact: I worked on a farming commune in Cuba for a month.
Inter-Faculty University Challenge 2015
Arts has done it again - Interfaculty University Challenge champions for the second year in a row!
Once again, Law put up a strong fight but Arts was too strong, taking out the competition 385-270. Congratulations to both teams and thank you to all the spectators who came along.
About University Challenge
As with the British show, "starter" questions are answered individually "on the buzzer", and are worth 10 points. The team answering a starter correctly gets a set of "bonus" questions worth a potential fifteen points, over which they can confer.
An incorrect interruption of a starter resulted in a five point penalty. The pace of questioning gradually increases through the show, becoming almost frantic in the last minute or so before the "gong" which signals the end of the game.
In the event of a tied score at the sound of the gong, a "sudden death" question will be asked. In this circumstance the first team to answer correctly will be been deemed the winner, with the process repeated until one or other of the teams answers correctly
Teams consisted of four members, each representing a single New Zealand university. Each team must have one reserve member.
More information on University Challenge
(source: Wikipedia)
For more information on the University of Auckland University Challenge team please email: whatson@auckland.ac.nz
- FOR
- ABOUT
- The University
- Programmes and courses
- Admission and enrolment
- Learning and teaching
- Research
- Perspectives
- International Strategy
- Māori ki Tāmaki Makaurau | Māori at the University
- Pacific at the University
- Equity at the University | Te Ara Tautika
- Giving to Auckland
- Careers at Auckland
- News, events and notices
-
FACULTIES, INSTITUTES, CAMPUSES AND LIBRARY
-
- Faculty of Arts
- Business School
- National Institute of Creative Arts and Industries
- Faculty of Education and Social Work
- Faculty of Engineering
- Faculty of Law
- Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences
- Faculty of Science
- Liggins Institute
- Auckland Bioengineering Institute
- Campuses
- Libraries and Learning Services
- Auckland UniServices Ltd
- More information...
Sana Oshika
Hometown: Born in Tokyo, Japan. Raised in West Auckland.
Currently studying: Final year BSc in Computer Science.
Strongest subjects: Literature, science, the periodic table.
Hobbies: Cooking, films, scuba diving.
Fun fact: I've had lunch with one of the co-creators of Tetris.
Hemanth Nair
Hometown: Auckland.
Currently studying: BA (Hons) in politics.
Strongest subjects: History, politics, modern literature.
Hobbies: Posting inspirational quotes on Facebook so as to brighten everyone's day.
Fun fact: I collect mispronunciations of my name. 'Hammond', as in the organ, being my favourite.
David Parfitt
Hometown: Auckland.
Currently studying: Graduate Diploma in History and English.
Strongest subjects: History, art history, music.
Hobbies: Socialism, cricket, wine.
Fun fact: I worked on a farming commune in Cuba for a month.
Inter-Faculty University Challenge 2015
Arts has done it again - Interfaculty University Challenge champions for the second year in a row!
Once again, Law put up a strong fight but Arts was too strong, taking out the competition 385-270. Congratulations to both teams and thank you to all the spectators who came along.
About University Challenge
As with the British show, "starter" questions are answered individually "on the buzzer", and are worth 10 points. The team answering a starter correctly gets a set of "bonus" questions worth a potential fifteen points, over which they can confer.
An incorrect interruption of a starter resulted in a five point penalty. The pace of questioning gradually increases through the show, becoming almost frantic in the last minute or so before the "gong" which signals the end of the game.
In the event of a tied score at the sound of the gong, a "sudden death" question will be asked. In this circumstance the first team to answer correctly will be been deemed the winner, with the process repeated until one or other of the teams answers correctly
Teams consisted of four members, each representing a single New Zealand university. Each team must have one reserve member.
More information on University Challenge
(source: Wikipedia)
For more information on the University of Auckland University Challenge team please email: whatson@auckland.ac.nz
- FOR
- ABOUT
- The University
- Programmes and courses
- Admission and enrolment
- Learning and teaching
- Research
- Perspectives
- International Strategy
- Māori ki Tāmaki Makaurau | Māori at the University
- Pacific at the University
- Equity at the University | Te Ara Tautika
- Giving to Auckland
- Careers at Auckland
- News, events and notices
-
FACULTIES, INSTITUTES, CAMPUSES AND LIBRARY
-
- Faculty of Arts
- Business School
- National Institute of Creative Arts and Industries
- Faculty of Education and Social Work
- Faculty of Engineering
- Faculty of Law
- Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences
- Faculty of Science
- Liggins Institute
- Auckland Bioengineering Institute
- Campuses
- Libraries and Learning Services
- Auckland UniServices Ltd
- More information...
Sana Oshika

Hometown: Born in Tokyo, Japan. Raised in West Auckland.
Currently studying: Final year BSc in Computer Science.
Strongest subjects: Literature, science, the periodic table.
Hobbies: Cooking, films, scuba diving.
Fun fact: I've had lunch with one of the co-creators of Tetris.
Hemanth Nair

Hometown: Auckland.
Currently studying: BA (Hons) in politics.
Strongest subjects: History, politics, modern literature.
Hobbies: Posting inspirational quotes on Facebook so as to brighten everyone's day.
Fun fact: I collect mispronunciations of my name. 'Hammond', as in the organ, being my favourite.
David Parfitt

Hometown: Auckland.
Currently studying: Graduate Diploma in History and English.
Strongest subjects: History, art history, music.
Hobbies: Socialism, cricket, wine.
Fun fact: I worked on a farming commune in Cuba for a month.
- FOR
-
ABOUT
- The University
- Programmes and courses
- Admission and enrolment
- Learning and teaching
- Research
- Perspectives
- International Strategy
- Māori ki Tāmaki Makaurau | Māori at the University
- Pacific at the University
- Equity at the University | Te Ara Tautika
- Giving to Auckland
- Careers at Auckland
- News, events and notices
-
Faculties, institutes, campuses and library
- Faculty of Arts
- Business School
- Faculty of Creative Arts and Industries
- Faculty of Education and Social Work
- Faculty of Engineering
- Faculty of Law
- Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences
- Faculty of Science
- Liggins Institute
- Auckland Bioengineering Institute
- Campuses
- Libraries and Learning Services
- Auckland UniServices Ltd
- More information...
-
Faculties, institutes, campuses and library
- Faculty of Arts
- Business School
- Faculty of Creative Arts and Industries
- Faculty of Education and Social Work
- Faculty of Engineering
- Faculty of Law
- Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences
- Faculty of Science
- Liggins Institute
- Auckland Bioengineering Institute
- Campuses
- Libraries and Learning Services
- Auckland UniServices Ltd
- More information...