Pupils to join Olympiad team

John McGlashan College pupils Nat Christensen (left) and Andy Dysart (both 17) have been selected to represent New Zealand at the International Geography Olympiad in Taipei, Taiwan. Photo by Peter McIntosh.

They have been selected for two of four places on the New Zealand Geography Olympiad team which will compete in the International Geography Olympiad in Taipei, Taiwan, in July.

But the down side is, they will be going without fellow John McGlashan College geography pupil Duncan Wilson.

The trio had been competing together in geography competitions for the past two years and won the Otago Maatangi Whenua geography competition, the New Zealand Maatangi Whenua national final, and were chosen to participate in the New Zealand Geography Olympiad team selection camp in Christchurch last month.

Unfortunately, Duncan was not selected for the national team.

"We're a bit disappointed we haven't been able to take Duncan as well.

He's been with us all the way through," Nat said.

"We'll miss him, but we're also looking forward to bonding with the other two in the team."

Andy said they did not know yet who the other two team members were, but believed it was unusual for two people from the same school to be selected.

"I was really surprised to be selected because the others at the camp were really clued up about geography.

"I don't know if there's ever been a team with two people from the same school before in New Zealand."

Nat said they would be competing against about 30 teams from around the world in events which included a quiz, fieldwork mapping, and writing reports, proposals and essays.

Both agreed their passion for geography stemmed from a curiosity about the impact humans have on the environment.

At past International Geography Olympiads, New Zealand teams have won silver and bronze awards.

However, the pair were already preparing for the 2010 Olympiad and hoped to win gold.

john.lewis@odt.co.nz