Spelling bee for younger students

Christopher Jury won last year's National Spelling Bee. Photo / Getty Images

An ultimatum from United States spelling bee organisers means New Zealand's spelling bee will now be offered to year eight students instead of year nine ones.

Organisers of the US National Spelling Bee told the New Zealand Spelling Bee organiser Janet Lucas that the winner of the NZ competition would not be able to compete in the American event if the change was not made.

It meant intermediate pupils would compete in the competition instead of high school students, bringing New Zealand into line with the US, which changed the way its event was run three years ago, Ms Lucus said.

This year's NZ spelling bee champ Tom Winter got through to the semifinals in the US event.

- NZPA