Travel online to Waikato, one of the most diverse areas in Aotearoa. It has a large city (Kirikiriroa Hamilton), farms, forests and important wetlands. Waikato has attracted many world-leading scientists, especially in the areas of botany (plants), zoology (animals), and ecology (inter-connectedness).
Discover more >
Background reading, images, narrations, keywords and quizzes.
Connect with experts >
Insights into people, their careers and a chance to ask them questions in a LIVE web conference.
Explore the field trip videos >
Videos and more showcasing places, people, ideas and initiatives on this field trip.
Take the Google Earth for Web tour >
A virtual tour of the field trip with GIS mapping, 3D locations, images, daily diaries and video.
Share your photo of a living thing >
Take your learning further and share a photo from an iNaturalistNZ observation with us!
About this trip
Biodiversity is part of our heritage and Aotearoa is home to many species that are found nowhere else in the world. An ecosystem that has naturally occurring species is likely to be healthy and productive. It is also likely to be a good place for people to visit or live.
In terms of ecosystems, land use and biodiversity, Waikato is one of the most diverse areas in Aotearoa. It has a large city (Kirikiriroa/Hamilton), farms, forests and important wetlands. Waikato has attracted many world-leading scientists, especially in the areas of botany (plants), zoology (animals), and ecology (inter-connectedness).
Travel online with LEARNZ to:
- find out what lives in different habitats (city, farm, forest, wetland)
- learn how scientists classify living things
- get to grips with iNaturalist and other online ways of identifying living things
- gain insights into the inter-connectedness of living things
- explore simple scientific techniques to find out what is living in your backyard
- explore mātauranga Māori concerning the science of living things
- learn how you and your school can improve biodiversity where you live
Curriculum
This online field trip supports a STEM-based, cross curricular approach to teaching and learning. Participation encourages curiosity, citizen-science and student inquiry. Access the glossary.
This trip reflects the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially Goal 15: Life on land: Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss.
