Explore a Geothermal Area

Earth ScienceScavenger HuntsEcosystems and HabitatsEarth and SoilNatural Disasters and Landforms
Written By Kim Manunui

What makes a geothermal area?

The Earth is made up of many layers. On the surface we have rocks and water, but below that there are other layers. Some of these layers are made up of super hot liquid. Find out more in the video below:

Geothermal areas are areas in the Earth’s surface that have vents (holes) letting steam out from deep down in the outer core. This heat creates ‘hot spots’ where mud boils, water erupts and sometime there’s a funny smell too- sulphur!

There are only 1350 hectares of geothermal ecosystems in the whole of Aotearoa, which is about the size of 3 average farms. So it is was always a rare ecosystem and it is now considered a critically endangered ecosystem because there is such a small area of it. Geothermal ecosystems are threatened by weeds like wilding pines, and by development of buildings, farms and power stations. DOC, the Waikato Regional Council, and Tangata Whenua , are working hard with organisations like Contact Energy to protect the area that is left though weed and pest control, fencing, and native planting on the edges.

There are small areas of geothermal kānuka at Crown Park and Spa Park, near Otumuheke. The Greening Taupō and Kids Greening Taupō native plantings at these sites will help protect these endangered plants by creating a buffer of native vegetation around them.

Only hardcore native species can live in these hot areas. Read about the special geothermal plants and animals in this incredible article (below) from the Kiwi Conservation Club magazine. It was written by one of our keen Kids Greening Taupō Student Rangers in 2019. He was part of a field trip to the Craters of the Moon geothermal park during the 50th year celebration of Conservation Week. On this trip the students were joined by keen local volunteers from the Greening Taupō Wicked Weeders group and several local experts.

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Find out if you have any geothermal areas near you that you could visit with your class, whānau or friends. Are there any special native species in your local geothermal areas? Try to learn more about them and how you could protect these species.

Learn more about geothermal kānuka here

Here is a local Bay of Plenty/Waikato Geothermal area scavenger hunt:

Do you know about geothermal energy?

Geothermal energy is a form of renewable energy which uses the steam from the hot magma areas underground to spin turbines and create power! Learn more about the history of geothermal energy in NZ in this video:

Kim Manunui

Hi, I’m Kim and I work with a great team to help individuals, as well as small and not so small businesses get their message, product and services to the world using digital media and creating wonderful websites that don’t cost the earth.

I was born in Canada, and grew up around Vancouver and the mountains of British Columbia. My love of pristine environments led me to New Zealand and eventually to the mountains, lakes and rivers of the central North Island which is home. My family’s heritage is here, and it’s from here that Korio traverses the planet.

The digital world is never static and neither are we.

And I say ‘we’ because I work with an awesome group of talented people who I gather together as required to complete a project.  Whatever your business, not-for-profit or individual needs are we gather the best team to get the job done.

Collaboratively we are creative, share sustainable values and work hard for great outcomes because that’s the buzz of satisfaction that drives us.

If you have an audience and market to reach, we can make that happen. Creative design, words that work and smart behind the scenes stuff that cuts through the online noise. We’ll design your website and then build it. We’ll manage the content as well as all your hosting needs. We can handle your online advertising so you get noticed,
and we’ll manage your social media presence so you get the clicks, likes and engagement to grow your business. All within the budget you set, because none of this needs to cost the earth.  And the job doesn’t stop when your website goes live. We are your virtual business partner.

https://www.korio.co.nz
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