1GEO - Level 1 Geography - Mātauranga-ā-whenua

Geography, or mātauranga-ā-whenua, is the study of the natural environment as the home of people. 

We investigate how environments, nga taiao, are shaped, including coastal, tectonic and climate processes. We explore at a variety of scales including global climatology and biomes; tectonics, earthquakes, and volcanoes in Aotearoa New Zealand; Tropical Cyclones in the Pacific and local coastal processes in Tasman Bay. 

Students can participate in outdoor learning in Tasman Bay or our Kaikoura camp. They learn to think spatially by using maps, visuals, inquiry, fieldwork, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to interpret our world. Through geographic thinking learners develop understanding of patterns, processes, peoples’ perspectives, interactions, and change.

Students gain transferable skills in

• Field trips and methods for collection of information outside the class
• Teamwork and independent thinking
• A holistic worldview
• Analytical skills, including cultural, statistical, and geo-spatial analysis including Google Earth and ArcGIS
• Practical application of concepts including environment, perspectives and sustainability 
• Ability to design and carry out research projects
• Ability to communicate visually, verbally and in writing
• Synthesise different viewpoints and types of information