Geography – It’s everywhere!
By Kate Hope | Posted: Thursday July 31, 2025
Exploring Castle Street through the Eyes of Our Ākonga.
The aim of this geography unit was simple; to equip ākonga with the skills and tools to explore an environment through meaningful data collection and analysis. In alignment with the new Geography NCEA standard, students engaged with te taiao (the environment) using both primary and secondary data, allowing them to uncover the rich, layered story of Castle Street and its surrounding student quarters in Dunedin.
The standard encourages ākonga to understand how data reveals interconnections between different elements within an environment. From local housing conditions to wider social dynamics, the students were given the opportunity to explore these connections firsthand. By doing so, they developed not only their geographic knowledge but also their ability to think critically, collaborate with others, and communicate ideas clearly. Ultimately, this empowers them to make informed decisions about the use, protection, and enhancement of environments they are part of.
The learning journey began with an engaging lecture at the University of Otago, where students viewed a visual history of Castle Street through a series of archived photographs. They saw how the area had changed over time-physically, culturally, and socially. This then sparked questions and curiosity about the current state of the student quarters.
Armed with these insights, ākonga set off to explore the area themselves. They conducted surveys of students living in the Castle Street area, asking for their views on safety, housing, sense of community, and what it means to live in such a unique cultural space. Environmental quality surveys were carried out, allowing students to evaluate the condition and liveability of the housing. This was paired with secondary data, including crime statistics, rent prices, newspaper articles, and historical trends, giving a fuller picture of the dynamics at play.
This standard encourages ākonga to participate actively in their learning, especially through primary data collection. By focusing on a local context, the learning became more relevant. Students weren’t just learning about geography; they were doing geography.
We extend our thanks to the University of Otago and the students of Castle Street for generously sharing their time and experiences. The ākonga thoroughly enjoyed the experience, and are now back in the classroom, collating their findings and drawing thoughtful conclusions.
See? Geography really is everywhere.
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