Palmerston North: 2026

Join us for the first time this July 24th - 26th in Te Papaioea!

Thank you for slow-dancing with us! 🎷

Register Now
About the Jam

It’s Palmy’s first year at Kiwijam, but that doesn’t mean we can’t be the best!

Join us for a weekend of game making, a fun challenge for both first-time and experienced game developers. We’ve got whiteboards, desks, power outlets and paper prototyping tools freely available! we do recommend bringing your own personal computer or other equipment involved with your creative process. 

Registration is FREE, but you must register before you can jam with us. Please make sure you’ve read the small print and the Kiwijam Code of Conduct before signing up too.

Running this event wouldn’t be possible without the space provided by the Universal College of Learning.

Schedule

We’ll be running the jam Friday evening to late Sunday afternoon, but won’t be open overnight, so we encourage you to make travel and transport arrangements to get home after a hard day’s jammin’

Friday

  • 5:30 pm – Pre-Kiwijam gathering.*
    *(    If this is your first Kiwijam, this is for you!)
  • 6:00 pm – Sign-in desk opens
  • 6:30 pm – Welcome presentation & official kick-off
  • 7:00 pm – Team-forming and food
  • 9:00 pm – Venue closes for the night
Saturday
  • 9:00 am – Venue opens
  • 9:30 am – Morning announcements
  • 4:00 pm – Check-in with teams
  • 5:00 pm – Venue closes for the night
Sunday
  • 9:00 am – Venue opens
  • 9:30 am – Morning announcements
  • 12:30 pm – Check in with teams
  • 4:00 pm – Deadline for submissions!
  • 4:30 pm – Play & Tell (show off and demo your projects!)
  • 5:00 pm – Pack up, Awards & Closing 

Please note : While the venue is open for 8 hours a day, due to the 48 hour time limit we encourage teams to spend time developing their projects after the venue closes each night.

You’re welcome to stay for as much or as little as you’d like (no need to arrive or leave when we open & close), but we recommend sticking around for the show & tell if you can. You will need to make your own arrangements for transport home on Friday and Saturday nights, as we’re unable to provide a space to sleep overnight.

Where to go

Kiwijam PMN is being hosted at the UCOL (Manawatu) Campus. Go to 18 Princess Street, Palmerston North; the UCOL Campus is located behind the Regent Theatre on Kings Street. Once here, specifically into Room 6-1-14. If you walk in the front entrance you’ll see signage on how to reach the lecture theatre.

If you’re driving, we recommend parking in one of the complexes on King or Queen’s street! There’s also several restaurants within walking distance for some kai as you need!