RASNZ

Help Send New Zealand's Brightest Young Astronomers to the International Olympiad for Astronomy and Astrophysics 2026
Hanoi, Vietnam - 25 Sep to 5 Oct.

Four exceptional secondary school students have earned the privilege of representing Aotearoa New Zealand at the International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA) 2026 (https://ioaastrophysics.org) one of the world's most prestigious international science competitions for high school students.

More than 500 of the world's top young astronomy students from over 70 countries will be competing with each other.

The New Zealand Olympiad for Astronomy and Astrophysics (NZOAA) Committee (https://www.nzoaa.com) is seeking the support of astronomical societies, organisations and individuals across New Zealand to help make this opportunity possible. While accommodation is generously provided by the host country, the team must raise funds to cover:

Team registration: €1,200 (approximately NZ$2,400)
Return airfares: approximately NZ$2,200 per student
Additional travel-related expenses

Your donation will help ensure that these outstanding students can participate based on their ability—not their financial circumstances. By supporting them, you are investing in the next generation of New Zealand scientists, engineers, educators and innovators, while inspiring other young New Zealanders to pursue astronomy and STEM.

Donations can be made via the RASNZ Givealittle page:
https://givealittle.co.nz/org/royal-astronomical-society-of-nz

Every donation, large or small, brings these students one step closer to representing Aotearoa New Zealand at one of the world's premier science competitions.

After a demanding process, the four exceptional students selected to represent New Zealand at IOAA 2026 are:
Gordon Lo — Macleans College
Jackie Xu — St Cuthbert's College
George Zhao — Botany Downs Secondary School
Liam Zhao — St Kentigern College

All four students continue to undertake regular advanced training in astronomy and astrophysics as they prepare to represent New Zealand in Vietnam.

Representing New Zealand at this level is an extraordinary achievement. These students have demonstrated outstanding academic ability, dedication and perseverance, and now have the opportunity to compete alongside the world's best young astronomers while proudly representing our country on the international stage.

The students are supported by a dedicated volunteer committee comprising respected educators, scientists and astronomy leaders.

Thank you for helping invest in the future of astronomy, science and education in New Zealand.

Jackie Xu, IOAA 2026 student representative - "Astrophysics and astronomy are genuine passions of mine because they allow me to understand the universe beyond our solar system, from modelling gravitational interactions to analysing celestial objects through spectroscopy. Competing at the IOAA would allow me to deepen my knowledge, learn alongside talented students from around the world, and proudly represent New Zealand and St Cuthbert’s College. With the support of my community, I also hope to inspire more young women to see astronomy and other STEM fields as places where they can belong and succeed.”
NZ IAU Astronomy Outreach IAU Office for Astronomy Outreach

✨✨Mānawatia a Matariki ✨✨

Celebrating Matariki is about -
Remembrance: Honoring those who have passed away since the last rising of the stars.

Celebrating the present: Gathering with family and friends (whānau) to share food and reflect on the harvest.

Looking to the future: Reading the signs (tohu) in the stars to predict the success of the upcoming year's seasons and crops

As we look upon the stars of Matariki, think about what they mean to us all in Aotearoa New Zealand.

The stars -
Matariki: The mother star, associated with health, healing, and the gathering of people.

Pōhutukawa: Connects us to the departed and helps us remember loved ones who have passed away.

Tupuānuku: Associated with food that grows in the ground (like kūmara).

Tupuārangi: Tied to foods that come from the sky and forests, such as birds and berries.

Waitī: Represents fresh water and the life it sustains.

Waitā: Connected to the ocean and saltwater resources.

Waipuna-ā-rangi: Associated with the rain.

Ururangi: Linked with the winds.

Hiwa-i-te-rangi: The wishing star, representing hopes, dreams, and aspirations for the coming year.

On the astronomy side, Matariki/Pleiades M45 is a cluster of over a 1000 young stars around 125 million years old (babies really). The cluster is 444 lightyears away in the constellation of Ta**us. It is around 43 lightyears in size with the inner core of the bright hot massive blue stars around 8 lightyears across.

The beautiful, ethereal blue haze surrounding the stars is a reflection nebula—a separate, dense cloud of gas and dust that Matariki/Pleiades is currently passing through, which reflects the brilliant light of the hot, young stars.
NZ IAU Astronomy Outreach IAU Office for Astronomy Outreach

WHY DARK SKIES MATTER
Dark skies matter because they protect our view of the stars, support wildlife and human health, save energy, and connect communities to science, culture, and wonder.
1. Astronomical observation and asteroid monitoring are hindered by artificial light at night.
2. Ecosystems and wildlife depend on natural darkness for migration, reproduction, and survival.
3. Cultural heritage and humanity's ancient connection to the stars are being lost to light pollution.
4. Public engagement with science diminishes when people can no longer see the night sky.
NZ IAU Astronomy Outreach IAU Office for Astronomy Outreach

Why dark skies matter?