Sasha says - What is a Geopark? - a podcast by Whitestone Geopark

This week, Sasha, Geo-educator of Waitaki Whitestone geopark, talks about what exactly is a Geopark and introduces the best way to explore Waitaki Whitestone geopark.

Transcript

Radio announcer: Time to talk Geopark and are joined again by our new Geo-educator, Sasha Morriss. Sasha, what are we talking about this week?

Geoeducator: Okay, well, this week we're going to be talking about what exactly is a Geopark. This is something I get asked alot and it's not a straightforward answer. So we've got a couple of steps in this. First of all, we need to ask the question, what is the Geosite? So a Geopark has Geosites in it. A Geosite, is a geologically interesting site. So you've got Elephant rocks, Moeraki Boulders. Now in the Waitaki District. We've identified 42 main Geosites along with numerous supporting sites. So the Geopark originally started about 17 years ago with Vanished World. And people set this up and it shows people some of the discoveries around the district. And I encourage people out there to visit it. There's lots of great activities for families to to, and kids especially love the dig room.

Geoeducator: So our Geopark includes not just rocks, although I think rocks and earth processes are pretty interesting - not everybody is into just rocks. So we've got nature, biodiversity, culture and heritage. And if you go onto our Web page, that's 'Whitestone Geopark', you can download our APP. And the APP has four different tours that you can do. We've got the walking tour of the Victorian precinct. We've got three driving tours - Geo highlights, an inland tour, the Waitaki Coast Tour and Geovistas. So I encourage you all to download the app onto your phone or your device and take some of these tours and you can actually send us in and some of your photos that you take when you're out and about either by #ing Whitestone Geopark. Or putting @ Waitaki Whitestone Geopark on Facebook or you can email us info@WhitestoneGeopark.nz.

Radio announcer: 42 is quite a number. That's surprising.

Geoeducator: Yeah, well, it's a big area where 7200 square kilometers of interesting stuff. So bearing in mind the list started a lot larger than forty two. It's been whittled down to a more manageable sized project.

Radio announcer: Ok. So where does it stretch from and to.

Geoeducator: So from down near Palmerston. Right up the coast here and inland through past Omarama. And we've got sites stretched right through that region.

Radio announcer: Ok. So the address again the Website address for that is...

Geoeducator: Whitestonegeopark.nz. There's lots of interesting things on there. Right from the Geogastronomy through to places to visit, interesting photos that other people have sent in. So I just encourage people to get involved. Check out the Web site, download the app, send us in your pictures, send us in your questions. I'd love to hear from people. More than happy to answer any questions that people may have. We could maybe do that on the radio as well as one of our slots. So just really wanting to hear from people and what their thoughts, are.

Radio announcer: Thanks very much, Sasha. We'll catch up with you again soon.

Geoeducator: All right. Thank you very much.

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Website of Whitestone Geopark