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Dive deeper into the stories of the Waitaki Whitestone UNESCO Global Geopark through our growing collection of articles, videos, podcasts, research, classroom activities and educational materials for curious minds of all ages.
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Research
Public talks
Our UNESCO Application
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Citizen Science
A 4.9 Mkm2 region of the southwest Pacific Ocean is made up of continental crust. The region has elevated bathymetry relative to surrounding oceanic crust, diverse and silica-rich rocks, and relatively thick and low-velocity crustal structure. Its isolation from Australia and large area support its definition as a continent—Zealandia. Zealandia was formerly part of Gondwana. Today it is 94% submerged, mainly as a result of widespread Late Cretaceous crustal thinning preceding supercontinent breakup and consequent isostatic balance. The identification of Zealandia as a geological continent, rather than a collection of continental islands, fragments, and slices, more correctly represents the geology of this part of Earth. Zealandia provides a fresh context in which to investigate processes of continental rifting, thinning, and breakup.
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The North Otago region of the South Island of New Zealand is well known for its volcanic deposits, including, the Boatmans Harbour Pillow Lava and the Kakanui Mineral Breccia which have had notable interest from geologists since the late 1800’s.
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A portal for geoscience webmaps and information on the Te Riu-a-Māui / Zealandia region.
https://data.gns.cri.nz/tez/
By Helen Fitt
Abstract: The Waitaki Whitestone Geopark aspires to be New Zealand’s first UNESCO Global Geopark. Many Geoparks around the world include ‘geotrails’ that integrate the different attractions and activities in an area. The proposed Waitaki Whitestone Geopark has been focusing on establishing a ‘Geogastronomy trail’ that will invite visitors to engage with the Geopark through experiencing its food and drink. This research sought to explore the perspectives of stakeholders on the proposed Geopark and its associated geogastronomy trail. This document primarily reports on the data collected through 17 interviews with 20 representatives of the Waitaki geogastronomy sector.
https://researcharchive.lincoln.ac.nz/handle/10182/12060
Education resources
Learning by topic
Classroom activities
Videos
Soundscapes
These tiny animals make up our Oamaru Stone. Just how did these sea creatures become limestone – and what do they tell us about the past?
Resources:
Colouring in and fact sheet - VIEW
Video - Oamaru Stone made from Bryozoans - VIEW
Information and activity sheet (The geological story of Oamaru) - VIEW
Image credit: Ruth K Baldwin
The diatom - a fossilised algae and focus of parlour games during Victorian times. So what’s the story with diatoms?
Recourses:
Video – Why are diatoms found in rock when they live in water - VIEW
Video – The story of the Waitaki Diatom - VIEW
Activity sheet – colour in and arrange like a Victorian scientist - VIEW
Information and activity sheet – create your own diatom - VIEW
Diatom images to print, colour and display - VIEW
Visit the Waitaki Museum in Oamaru to learn more about diatoms and have a go at creating your own diatom display on their light table
Image credit: Wayne Barrar
Large limestone formations scattered across this rural paddock – but how did they get there?
Resources:
Information sheet - VIEW
Geosite webpage - VIEW
Elephant Rocks soundscape:
Long ago, the area of Oamaru was under the sea. It was home to volcanic eruptions and ancient sea life.
How did our landscape form, and where did the resources used for building the Whitestone City of the Victorian era come from?
Resources:
Information and activity sheet - VIEW
Oamaru soundscape:
Also see topics bryozoans, diatoms, and volcanoes.
The geologic timescale is a timeline that shows the order of geologic events that have formed our land. It spans millions of years.
Earth scientists can work out how old a rock is by:
Measuring the decay of special elements in a rock (radiometric dating)
Certain fossils in sedimentary rocks
Superposition – younger rocks are on top of older rocks (there are exceptions to this i.e. where rocks are deformed and some igneous rocks)
Resources:
WWG geologic timescale – this shows some special features in our geopark and when they were formed - VIEW
Our story begins with Gondwana, an ancient supercontinent that broke apart into new lands. Zealandia is one of these fragments – the 8th continent of the world, and the foundation of modern New Zealand.
Resources:
Gondwana colouring in puzzle and information sheet - VIEW
Probably the largest eagle to have ever lived – and was native to New Zealand. Learn more about this ancient predator.
Resources:
Information sheet - VIEW
Moa Trail - VIEW
The smallest penguin in the world and native to New Zealand. Learn more about this modern-day treasure.
Resources:
Information sheet - VIEW
Video – Ancient giant penguins to the modern day - VIEW
Make a penguin mask - VIEW
Also see topic ‘Geology of Oamaru’
Marine (sea) fossils of international significance have been found in the rocks of the Waitaki Whitestone Geopark. Learn more about the ancient world they lived in and where to see casts and displays of our prehistoric sea life.
Resources
Information sheet - VIEW
Also see topics ‘bryozoans’, ‘Diatoms’, and ‘Geology of Oamaru’
One of the biggest birds to have ever lived (up to 3.6 metres tall) and native to New Zealand. Moa remains have been found in locations in the Waitaki Whitestone Geopark.
Resources:
Information sheet - VIEW
Moa Trail - VIEW
Formed by ancient lake and rivers, the gravels and sand have been pushed up by the active Ostler Fault to form cliffs.
Resources:
Information sheet - VIEW
The plesiosaur – a huge creature that lived in our seas around 70 million years ago. Plesiosaurs died out with the dinosaurs around 66 million years ago. A plesiosaur fossil was discovered in the Waitaki Whitestone Geopark and you can see this in the Otago Museum.
Resources:
Colouring in - VIEW
Information sheet - VIEW
Rocks that make up the earth’s crust are categorised into three different rock types – sedimentary, metamorphic and igneous. Each rock type is formed in a different way. Learn more here and become a rock detective.
Resources:
Information sheets - currently under development
These impressive boulders are made of mud cemented together by the mineral calcite. They formed millions of years ago within muds under the sea.
Resources:
Information sheet - VIEW
Geosite webpage - VIEW
Remnants of ancient volcanoes can be seen along the coastal section of the Waitaki Whitestone Geopark. But when did they erupt, and what kind of volcanos were they?
Resources:
Make a volcano model - VIEW
Colouring in - VIEW
Label a volcano - VIEW
Geosite webpages
Boatmans harbour - VIEW
Hutcheson's quarry - VIEW
Puketapu - VIEW
Bridge point - VIEW
Video – Pillow lava formation - VIEW
Volcano information sheet - VIEW
Inside a volcano - VIEW
Volcanic rock – spot it - VIEW
Also refer to the topic ‘Geology of Oamaru’
Braided rivers not only flow from the mountains to the sea, but can sweep across their floodplain – their active channels changing with flooding and sediment buildup. Learn more about some of the features of our very special Waitaki River.
Resources:
Information sheet - VIEW
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