Macleans College student to represent New Zealand at International Geography Olympiad

Posted on October 22, 2025

Year 12 Macleans College student Cole Roberts (Mansfield House) has been selected to represent New Zealand at the 2026 International Geography Olympiad (iGeo) to be held in Istanbul, Turkiye.

iGeo is an annual event that brings together the worlds’ top geography students aged 16 to 19 to showcase their knowledge, skills and passion for the subject.

Cole earned his place on the four-person national team following a rigorous three-stage selection process.  A record 172 students from 39 secondary schools entered the first stage, with 50 progressing to stage two.  From there, 11 finalists were invited to Wellington for the final round of testing.

At the conclusion of the finals, Cole secured a position in the New Zealand team alongside students from Rangitoto College, Kristin School and Otago Boys’ High School.

Recognition is also extended to Mingxuan He (Kupe) for achieving a place among the top 11 students and competing in the Wellington finals.

In the lead-up to the Olympiad in July, Cole will be preparing and fundraising for the event, which includes a written response test, a multimedia test and a fieldwork exercise.  The programme also features cultural exchanges, excursions and opportunities to explore Istanbul.