The Year 11 Geography class recently visited Tekapo to meet with a variety of tourism providers to find out how they were trying to make their operations more environmentally sustainable.

On Friday 31 July the Year 11 Geography class headed off early to Tekapo to visit a range of tourism providers to find out how they are reducing the environmental impacts of their operations. Students also had the opportunity to explore Tekapo township and icon attractions such as the Church of the Good Shepherd. The information gained on this field trip will assist the students in completing an upcoming NCEA Internal Assessment on the sustainable use of an environment.

Students visited Peppers Bluewater Resort where they received a warm welcome and a very informative presentation from Duty Manager Gail Buquid. Gail provided a unique perspective for students by discussing both the natural and cultural impacts of tourism in Tekapo. It was interesting for the students to hear about how Peppers is trying to reduce their environmental impacts by doing things such as recycling shampoo bottles to make fence posts that are proving popular with the viticulture industry.

The team at Air Safaris welcomed the students at their airport and Richard Rayward very kindly gave up his time to talk to the students. Richard discussed the history of the business, day to day operations and how certain environmental impacts such as fuel consumption and noise are reduced by altering flying techniques and flight paths. We were lucky enough to be given a tour of the hangar to see the different planes and helicopters used by Air Safaris. It was evident to all the students that Richard is very passionate and knowledgeable about flying and South Island High Country.

After a soak in the Tekapo Springs hot pools students had a quick chat with team members at Tekapo Springs. We found out more about their operation, what attracts tourists to their operation all year round and how they are working to reduce their environmental impacts. Students were interested to find out that the ice rink was built on the shady side of Mt John to reduce the amount of energy needed to keep it frozen and that the hot pools are heated by the heat produced in keeping the ice rink frozen. Tekapo Springs also plants native plants around the facilities to help it blend in and is trying hard to work out an environmentally friendly system of keeping birds out of their cafe.

It was interesting to hear that all of the tourism providers we visited are involved with community projects to reduce the environmental impacts of tourism in Tekapo such as street and and highway clean ups, participating in district recycling schemes, encouraging and educating tourists about recycling and ensuring their use of light at night does not affect the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve. Tourism operators we visited were also keen to do their part with controlling the invasive wilding pines in the Mackenzie Basin.

Many thanks to Ms McMurray for giving up her time and helping out for the day driving the van and Gail Buquid from Peppers Bluewater Resort, Richard Rayward from Air Safaris and the Team at Tekapo Springs for hosting us.

Ms S Robinson

Learning Area Head Social Sciences

Teacher in Charge Geography