IYPT New Zealand or Te Pātuki (The Battle) is an event for New Zealand secondary school Physics students. It is based on the International Young Physicists’ Tournament.

To compete in Te Pātuki a school team comprises three members. Solutions to 7 problems have to be prepared in the form of 12 minute PowerPoint presentations. At the tournament an opposing team challenges the reporting team to present their solution to a problem. Then the opposing team reviews and challenges the report, following which the teams debate the validity of the solution. In the National Final a third team will review the performance of both the reporting and opposing teams.

In 2009 there will be three regional tournaments in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch on Saturday 7th March. The top two teams from each region then compete in the National Final in Auckland on 21st March.

Te Pātuki also acts as the selection event for the New Zealand team that will compete in the international tournament in China in July. The three members of the team that wins Te Pātuki and the best five students from other teams will form the New Zealand squad from which the 5 person New Zealand team will be selected.

Rules governing the conduct of the Regional Tournaments, the National Final and the selection the New Zealand team are detailed in the IYPT New Zealand Regulations.