Herald Afternoon Quiz: What It Is and How to Play

There’s a small ritual that thousands of New Zealanders share each afternoon: opening the New Zealand Herald’s daily quiz, a five-minute brain break that covers everything from history to pop culture. If you’ve ever wondered how it works or why it’s so popular, this guide lays it all out.

Frequency: Daily · Cost: Free · Platform: nzherald.co.nz

Four key details define the Herald afternoon quiz:

What is the Herald afternoon quiz?

The Herald afternoon quiz is a daily general knowledge quiz published by the New Zealand Herald (NZ Herald Afternoon Quiz topic page). It typically consists of 5–10 multiple-choice questions and covers a broad range of topics in a format that takes just a few minutes to complete.

How the quiz works

• Users navigate to the quiz page on nzherald.co.nz (NZ Herald Latest quizzes)
• Quiz questions appear one at a time with multiple-choice options
• After answering all questions, results and correct answers are shown instantly

Typical format

• Multiple-choice questions with four options
• Questions drawn from general knowledge categories: history, science, pop culture, geography, and sports
• Each quiz contains between 5 and 10 questions based on recent samples

History of the quiz

• The quizzes topic page has been live since at least June 2020 (NZ Herald Quizzes News)
• Archived entries show afternoon quizzes dating back to December 2020 (NZ Herald Quizzes archive)

The implication: The quiz has been a staple of the Herald’s digital offering for over five years, evolving into a daily habit for many readers.

How do I play the Herald afternoon quiz?

1. Visit nzherald.co.nz and navigate to the quiz page.
2. Select the correct answer from multiple-choice options.
3. View your score and share it on social media.

Accessing the quiz page

• Visit nzherald.co.nz and navigate to the “Quizzes” topic page (NZ Herald Quizzes)
• Alternatively, go directly to the dedicated Afternoon Quiz topic page

Answering questions

• Select the correct answer from the multiple-choice options
• Questions are presented one at a time; you can change your answer before submitting

Viewing results and sharing

• After completing the quiz, your score and the correct answers are displayed
• Share your score on social media using the provided link (Example: Herald afternoon quiz May 2)

What this means: Playing takes under five minutes, and the sharing feature turns a solo brain exercise into a social conversation starter.

Where can I find the Herald afternoon quiz?

On the nzherald.co.nz website

• The quiz is featured on the Herald’s homepage and via the “Quizzes” topic page (NZ Herald Quizzes)
• A dedicated topic page lists all past afternoon quiz articles

Through the Herald app

• The quiz is also accessible via the Herald’s mobile app, available on iOS and Android

Via social media links

• Quiz articles are shared on the Herald’s social media channels, providing another entry point

The pattern: The quiz is integrated into multiple touchpoints, ensuring readers can find it whether they browse the website, use the app, or follow social links.

What are the most common questions in the Herald afternoon quiz?

Sample questions from recent quizzes

• “Which word describes opening a champagne bottle with a sword?”
• “Who directed the 1991 action/sci-fi film Terminator 2: Judgment Day?”
• “The Daytona 500 motor race is held annually in which US state?”
• “What was the title of Abba’s 2021 record, their first studio album in 40 years?”

Categories of questions

• History (e.g., Wall Street crash year)
• Pop culture (e.g., film directors, music albums)
• Geography (e.g., US states, countries)
• Science and technology
• Sports (e.g., Daytona 500, chess questions)

Difficulty level

• Moderately challenging; designed to be accessible yet stimulating for a broad audience

Why this matters: The variety ensures regular players encounter new topics each day, keeping the quiz fresh without becoming overly difficult.

Are there alternative daily quizzes in New Zealand?

NZ Herald’s own alternatives

• Morning quiz — published daily, directing readers to the afternoon quiz (Herald morning quiz: March 24)
• Herald Hat-trick sports quiz — a sports-themed variant

The trade-off: For readers who want more than one quiz per day, the Herald offers morning and sports options, providing variety within the same trusted platform.

Quotes from the Herald

“Test your brain with the Herald’s afternoon quiz.”

— The Herald’s quizzes team, afternoon quiz topic page

“Check back … for the afternoon quiz.”

— The Herald’s morning quiz editors, morning quiz article

“Test your general knowledge with the Herald’s afternoon quiz.”

— The Herald’s May 2 quiz article, May 2 quiz

For New Zealanders who crave a daily brain break, the decision is straightforward: save five minutes mid-afternoon for the Herald quiz, or risk being left out of the water-cooler trivia conversation the next day.