Geography Wānanga Day – Learning Through Experience

By Kate Hope | Posted: Thursday May 29, 2025

Our recent Geography Wānanga Day’s were a fantastic opportunity for our students to explore the dynamic, real-world nature of Geography through hands-on activities, competitions, and field experiences.

Year 11

The focus for the day was on extreme natural events and how they impact us both globally and here in Te Waipounamu. Students used an online mapping tool to track earthquakes across the South Island over the past 20 years, identifying patterns and considering the effects on local communities. They also put their engineering skills to the test by designing and building model structures that could withstand simulated shaking from the Kaikōura and Christchurch earthquakes.

The middle part of the day was filled with fun, Geography-themed competitions. Students tested their knowledge of Aotearoa’s key locations and their meanings, identified country flags and outlines, and even used playdough in creative geographic challenges.

In the afternoon, students visited the Civil Defence bunker in Morey Place. This eye-opening experience gave them an inside look at how emergencies are managed in Aotearoa and the vital roles various agencies play during a crisis. It was a fascinating and memorable way to wrap up the day.

Year 12

Year 12 students built on their recent field trip to Aoraki/Mt Cook during their Geography Wānanga Day, diving deeper into their research and exploring future pathways in the subject.

The morning was spent analysing findings from the Red Tarns walk. Students studied how vegetation changes with altitude, creating graphs to show these patterns and linking their observations to the effects of climate on altitudinal zonation.

Midday brought a competitive edge, with inter-class Geography challenges similar to the Year 11s. After some tough competition, the team of Coen, Finlay, Sam D, and Fletcher emerged victorious—earning themselves a coveted canteen voucher!

In the afternoon, Mr Foster’s class explored soil layers in a deliciously creative way by constructing edible soil models. They applied their knowledge of soil horizons while connecting the activity to their research tasks. Meanwhile, Ms Hope’s class headed to Otago Polytechnic to work with the engineering and surveying departments. Students got hands-on experience with professional surveying equipment, measuring distances and angles across Logan Park rugby fields and even checking the council’s accuracy!

Year 13

Year 13 students spent their Wānanga Day deepening their understanding of large-scale event planning, using the Rhythm and Alps festival as a real-world case study. As part of their investigation into significant geographic events, students examined the planning, resources, and permits required to run such an event. Highlighting the human-environment interactions central to this aspect of Geography.

In the afternoon, students visited the University of Otago’s Geography department for a series of thought-provoking sessions. Dr. Sean Fitzsimons shared insights into the fascinating formation of diamonds, while Dr. Doug Hill discussed the complex social and environmental impacts of diamond mining in regions like Sierra Leone and Angola.

To wrap up the day, students explored physical geography in action by studying the flow of the Leith Stream. Using dye to trace water movement and racing tennis balls downstream, they visualised how flow rate and stream dynamics work—congratulations to George and Jack for taking first place in the tennis ball race!

Overall, it was a week of meaningful learning, connections to real-world issues, and a reminder of the diverse pathways Geography can offer.