Who We Are

NZIBO is organised by teachers, professionals working in the field of Biology and university students, keen to share their passion for Biology with New Zealand students.

Our August entry exam profiles current New Zealand research and asks students to read information, interpret graphs and use evidence to make decisions. Successful students enter a well-supported online tutorial programme using the Campbell and Reece Text; Biology and Pearson’s MasteringBiology online resources. Regular assignments are administered online by Education Perfect. Students study from August until February, with a break during NCEA exams. A fabulous ten-day residential training camp at Easter is the reward for the top 20 – 30 students from the tutorial programme. Camp selection is determined via an online exam in February/March. Campers complete laboratory practicals, field surveys and ecological studies while competing for the four places in the team that travels to represent NZ at the International Biology Olympiad.

The group relies heavily on sponsorship from tertiary organisations and business. All NZIBO organisers are volunteers and include program alumni in their ranks. We hope you will join us.

Objectives

NZIBO endeavours to foster excellence in biology and systems thinking in New Zealand secondary school students.

New Zealand representation is offered to New Zealand students who are New Zealand secondary school students who have been enrolled at a NZ secondary school for two years. NZIBO selects, from those it has trained, students to attend the International Olympiad in Biology.

Results

The 36th IBO was held in Quezon City, Philippines in July 2025, in Kazakhstan in 2024, United Arab Emirates in 2023 and Armenia in 2022. The 2026 IBO will be held in Lithuania. New Zealand has a strong track record in the event, winning medals every year since we began competing in 2005. As well as winning Gold in 2017 and 2011, New Zealand has won a total of 23 Silvers, and 39 Bronzes, and is one of the few countries to have won medals at every year of entry.

The NZ Biology Olympiad is extremely proud of the outstanding achievement of the four students who represented NZ at the 2025 IBO in the Philippines.
The students (shown L to R in the picture) were Jessica Wu (St Cuthbert’s College) – Bronze Medal, Oren Dabbach (Pinehurst College) – Silver Medal, Jamie Cartwright (Glendowie College) – Bronze Medal, and Sophie Main (Glendowie College) – Bronze Medal