Maatangi Whenua 2011 Competition

This competition is open to students who study Geography at Year 11, whose school is a member of the New Zealand Geographical Society Inc. HBHS visited Tauranga Girls’ College for the WBOP Regional Round of this year’s competition. Our boys competed against 15 other teams over 9 rounds. The competition tested student’s knowledge of places, landmarks, geographical features and environments, and geography in the news. Our team won by the closest of margins, and we are very proud and delighted to have retained the Regional Trophy that we have now won three years in a row. The team comprising Lyndon Dearlove, Drikus Conradie and Donghyun Kim will have the opportunity to travel to Wellington on the 3rd and 4th of September to compete in the National Finals and defend our National Title. 

It has been announced that the next International Geography Olympiad will be in held in Cologne in Germany. The 2012 Olympiad will begin on August 21 and end on August 26. The local organisers will host 30 teams from around the world.  Apart from a written test, and a multimedia test a fieldwork one full day excursion is included in the event.

The team selected to represent New Zealand is comprised of students who have excelled in the Maatangi Whenua competition over the previous two years and then competed in a selection camp.

Our students Scott Cameron, Brent Coleman and Timothy Snedden hold the National Title from 2010 and as such can expect to be invited to attend a training camp later this year when the New Zealand team will be finalised.