Wellington's free 12-hour hackathon for high school students
Wellington · Saturday 26 September 2026
NEC House, Level 4, 40 Taranaki Street, Te Aro, Wellington 6011
About Nova
KiwiHacks Nova is a constellation of three hackathons across New Zealand. Three cities, three weekends, three free hackathons for high schoolers. A nova is a star that suddenly bursts bright, and that's the idea: light up Wellington, Christchurch, and Auckland with students building real things.
Nova is a chance to meet new people, learn new skills, and build something you're actually proud of, whether that's an app, a game, a website, a hardware project, or something nobody has seen before! You team up, you get 12 hours, and you ship. Mentors will be around for the entire event, and beginner-friendly workshops mean you don't need any prior experience to get started. Food, drinks, and swag are all included, and everything is completely free!
We're KiwiHacks, New Zealand's first high school hackathon club, built and run entirely by teenagers! At KiwiHacks ’26 earlier this year, over 100 high schoolers turned up and every team left with a shipped project they were proud of. (Check them out here!) Plus, all of them made a new friend. Nova takes that across the country. Whatever your skill level, you are welcome. Just sign up, show up, and give it a go.
Nova 2026 dates and cities
Choose your nearest event. Each Nova is a separate free 24-hour hackathon with its own venue, schedule, and attendee guide.
Venue and schedule
Where
NEC House, Level 4
40 Taranaki Street
Te Aro, Wellington 6011
Open in Google MapsOn Taranaki Street in Te Aro, a short walk from Courtenay Place and on most Wellington bus routes. There is paid street and building parking nearby for drop-off.
Arrive from 7:30am on Saturday to sign in before the 8:00am opening ceremony.
Running order
Saturday 26 September
- 7:30am
- Doors open and check-in
- 8:00am
- Opening ceremony and workshops
- 9:30am
- Building starts
- 12:30pm
- Lunch
- 5:00pm
- Dinner
- 6:30pm
- Project submission
- 7:15pm
- Judges expo
- 7:45pm
- Prizegiving and closing ceremony
- 8:00pm
- Pick-up
Guides for Wellington
Everything you and your family need to know before the weekend.
Safety
Nova is closed-door, so this matters. Venues are supervised around the clock at one staff member to every fifteen attendees, everyone signs in and out, mentors and organisers are police-vetted, and there is first aid on site.
Read our safeguarding policyNot your city? See all three Nova events .
Frequently asked questions
Where is Nova Wellington being held?
NEC House, Level 4, 40 Taranaki Street, Te Aro, Wellington 6011. On Taranaki Street in Te Aro, a short walk from Courtenay Place and on most Wellington bus routes. There is paid street and building parking nearby for drop-off.
When do I need to arrive in Wellington?
Arrive from 7:30am on Saturday to sign in before the 8:00am opening ceremony. The event finishes at Saturday 26 September, 8:00pm.
Is there a guide I can read before the event?
Yes. There are two: an attendee guide with the schedule and venue, and a parent's guide covering cost, supervision, sleeping, food, and drop-off and pick-up. Both are linked near the top of this page.
Who can attend KiwiHacks Nova?
Any high school student in New Zealand, aged 13 to 18. Come on your own or bring a team of friends. No experience is needed.
I'm not a good coder. Can I come?
Yes. Total beginners are welcome and a lot of KiwiHackers write their first line of code at the event. We run workshops and have mentors on hand all weekend. Designers, artists, and storytellers fit right in too.
What should I bring to the hackathon?
A laptop and charger, any devices you want to build with, a water bottle, and a warm layer. Nova Wellington is a 12-hour day event with no overnight stay, so there is no need for a sleeping bag. We cover the food, Wi-Fi, and the space.
All of this, for free?
Yes, completely free to attend. Food, mentors, workshops, and swag are all included. Cost is never a barrier at KiwiHacks.
What can I make at KiwiHacks Nova?
Anything you can build in 12 hours: a game, a website, an app, a hardware project, or something completely unexpected. Every team leaves with a real project they built themselves.
What if my parents are concerned?
We are happy to talk. Every city page has a parent's guide covering cost, supervision, sleeping, food, the venue, and drop-off and pick-up times. The venue is supervised the whole time, a signed waiver is required to take part, and you can call or text Niko on 022 135 0419, or ring the KiwiHacks line on 09 243 0984, any time.
How about safety?
The event is supervised by the KiwiHacks team around the clock. There is a secure venue with sign-in and sign-out, first aid on site, police-vetted mentors and organisers, a clear code of conduct, and guardian contact details collected at sign-up. Our full safeguarding policy is on this site.
What if I have more questions?
Email niko@kiwihacks.org, call the KiwiHacks line on 09 243 0984, or join the KiwiHackers Discord at kiwihacks.org/discord. We reply fast.
Still stuck? Read the full FAQ or email niko@kiwihacks.org .