Today we toured a very interesting geological location known as Waimangu Valley. It is home to many hot springs and geysers as a result of a volcanic eruption in 1886. Although this site could be used for geothermal energy production, the land is kept safe from developments of this nature. This may seem like a waste of resources, but it is actually very useful for science as this site acts as a baseline for measurement that other geothermal sites can’t do. When analyzing whether development such as geothermal energy production is harming the landscape, a baseline site that has not been altered is crucial in determining if the energy is being collected sustainably and ethically.
Another interesting feature of this land is that the volcanic eruption covered all that once lived there in deep layers of mud, meaning nature had to regrow everything. Because we know the exact date of the volcanic eruption, we can exactly track how everything regrew. Data like this could be useful for re-establishing of forests to replace old farmland, like the forest we saw at Waiheke Island.
Finally, we embarked on a truly unforgettable night hosted by a very generous Maori tribe. I loved how loud and powerful their voices could be. I got chills hearing them sing! The poi and the stick game were very fun, and also informative. There are so many fun games and tools that people have created that we only just scratched the surface of tonight. If only kids now were learning to play games like these instead of games on their phones. The dinner was also incredible. I liked how they served every type of food, from various meats, veggies, and starches. The Maori people were generous hosts who took time and effort to create a wonderful educational experience, and I feel honored to be a part of their family.
