University of Auckland Maths Challenge
The Maths competition that serves as a stepping stone to a variety of opportunities.
Maths doesn’t have to be boring - put your maths skills to the test and duke it out with students from other schools across Auckland. Prepare yourself to succeed beyond high school by engaging in competitive maths with us.
Make that first step you take a fun one
The University of Auckland Maths Challenge (MC) is an awesome starting point for Māori and Pacific students from as young as Year 5 to build up confidence and skills within and beyond maths.
Maths is like a muscle; you need to work it out regularly to become strong. And once you do, you quickly find out that there is so much more you are capable of.
Our Maths Challenge is similar to the Auckland Mathematical Association’s Mathex competition; a set of preparatory events to gauge your interest in maths, done in this way, and understanding that maths is a discipline that requires practice.
Competitiveness means pressure, so in addition to crunching numbers, the ability to be resilient, think on your feet and strategise effectively - on top of working with others - is crucial.
Using the Maths Challenge to hop towards other stepping stones
As mentioned before, Maths Challenge can be your first step towards a number of other amazing opportunities offered by the University:
- University Entrance
- Whakapiki Ake
- Pacific Health Wayfinder
- Apollo
- STEM Online
- Women in Engineering
- Pacific Academy
Upcoming Maths Challenge events
Year 5 and 6
Central Auckland
| Date | Time | Event number | Host school |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday 25 March 2026 | 1pm | 1 | Mt Roskill Primary School |
Year 7 and 8
South and East Auckland
| Date | Time | Event number | Host school |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday 14 May 2026 | 9am | 1 | De La Salle College |
| Thursday 28 May 2026 | 9am | 2 | De La Salle College |
| Thursday 11 June 2026 | 9am | 3 | Mangere Central |
| Thursday 25 June 2026 | 9am | 4 | Mangere Central |
| Wednesday 22 July 2026 | TBC | 5 | TBC |
Central Auckland
| Date | Time | Event number | Host school |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday 7 May 2026 | 11.30am | 1 | Auckland Normal Intermediate |
| Thursday 21 May 2026 | 9am | 2 | St Peters College |
| Thursday 4 June 2026 | 9am | 3 | Mt Roskill Intermediate School |
| Thursday 18 June 2026 | TBC | 4 | TBC |
| Thursday 23 July 2026 | 9am | 5 | St Peters College |
Year 9 and 10
South and East Auckland
| Date | Time | Event number | Host school |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday 12 May 2026 | 9am | 1 | De La Salle College |
| Tuesday 26 May 2026 |
TBC | 2 | TBC |
| Tuesday 9 June 2026 |
9am | 3 | Ōtahuhu College |
| Tuesday 23 June 2026 | 9am | 4 | Ōtahuhu College |
| Tuesday 28 July 2026 | 9am | 5 | De La Salle College |
Central and West Auckland
| Date | Time | Event number | Host school |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday 5 May 2026 |
9am | 1 | St Peters College |
| Tuesday 19 May 2026 |
9am | 2 | Waitakere College |
| Tuesday 2 June 2026 |
9am | 3 | Rutherford College |
| Tuesday 16 June 2026 |
9am | 4 | St Peters College |
| Thursday 30 July 2026 | 9am | 5 | Rutherford College |
Combined events
Year 9 and 10
| Year group | Date | Time | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 9 and 10 | Tuesday 11 August | 9.30am | Hiwa |
| Year 7 and 8 | Wednesday 12 August | 9.30am | Hiwa |
About us
Katalina Ma and Josephina Tamatoa started the Maths Challenge (then known as the South Auckland Maths Challenge (SAMC)) in South Auckland back in 2019, with a primary focus on offering preparatory events for Māori and Pacific students to engage in competitive maths.
They have now expanded the Maths Challenge to include events in central-west Auckland, as well as early exposure events for Year 7 and Year 8 students in Central, East, and South Auckland, and events for Year 5 and Year 6 students in Central and South Auckland.