DEVELOPING AN EDUCATION FRAMEWORK AND PLACE-BASED FIELD TRIP CURRICULUM FOR THE TE PATAKA O RAKAIHAUTU / BANKS PENINSULA GEOPARK

Banks Peninsula, located on the East Coast of New Zealand’s South Island, is developing as a Geopark. The community, comprised of land and property owners, local educators and scientists, small businesses, and government groups has determined that education is to function as the Te Pātaka o Rākaihautū / Banks Peninsula Geopark’s foundational pillar. However, there is currently no existing framework and/or detailed strategy to support an education-focused Geopark structure. This research investigated the following question: How can place-based learning experiences be successfully incorporated into the overarching education framework of the Te Pātaka o Rākaihautū / Banks Peninsula Geopark? Using literature reviews and case studies, we present three core deliverables that serve to answer the research question: (1) an evidence-based education framework for the Te Pātaka o Rākaihautū / Banks Peninsula Geopark, (2) an in-depth investigation of place-based education, and (3) a detailed curriculum for a place-based field trip for primary school students to Okains Bay on Banks Peninsula. To successfully implement education as the foundational pillar we recommend that (1) developers adopt the overarching education framework and use it to guide future Geopark development, (2) place-based education philosophies and strategies are actively incorporated into each educational component of the Geopark, and (3) curriculum developers work directly with indigenous peoples (i.e. local Māori) to accurately and appropriately incorporate / integrate knowledge and concepts.