New Zealand Geography Olympiad

Every two years gifted and talented young geographers in New Zealand have the chance to participate in the International Geography Olympiad (IGEO). The event was set up in 1992 and is organised for the International Geographical Union by the IGEO based in the Netherlands. The format of the competition is enshrined in the Olympiad statutes; the three formal tests include an extended writing assignment that explores geographical knowledge in depth, and a multimedia examination that requires the use of a wide range of geographical information in creative and innovative ways. The third and most challenging aspect of the Olympiad competition is the field work and cartography activities. The field work requires extended observation and recording of a variety of physical and cultural landscapes, followed by an activity that establishes the interpretive skills and cultural awareness of the participants. The related cartographic exercises test the conventions of cartographic visualization and representation within a very tight time frame.

Teams from New Zealand have participated in the Geography Olympiad with partial funding from the Government in events in Brisbane in 2006, Tunisia in 2008 and Taipei in 2010. Twenty seven teams met in Taipei with more than this anticipated for the 2012 competition in Cologne. The New Zealand team performed with distinction in Taipei, improving on our Brisbane and Tunis medal performance by winning two silver and a bronze medals. The team also introduced the international community to Maori culture with an electric performance of Kamate, and represented the country with maturity. While the 2008 team members rode camels in the fringes of the Sahara, visited troglodyte houses, and viewed Roman mosaics in the Bardo Museum in Tunisia, the 2010 team visited the Taroko National Park, the Taipei 101 building and the Yehuli marine park in Taipei.

The 2012 New Zealand Olympiad team is made up of four secondary school students between 16 and 19 on 30 June 2012. Students are selected through a national Geography competition, and the NZ Board of Geography Teachers organises this through the well-established national Maatangi Whenua event. Maatangi Whenua brings together the best school teams from six regions, with up to 200 teams nationally invited to compete in the regional rounds.

The selection of the 2012 Olympiad team for Cologne will be completed by Christmas, and a training camp will be organised for those young scholars chosen to represent New Zealand Geography. The 2012 event will be continue to be supported by the Science OlympiaNZ organisation, formed with Todd Foundation support in 2009 to promote excellence in scholarship in our senior secondary school programmes.