LOCAL OPPORTUNITIES

 

Sustainability, Tourism, Agriculture, Revitalisation

Geoparks provide stimulus. Internationally Geoparks have found both increased connection of the population to the natural environment, and significant growth in high value authentic tourism.

Overseas Geoparks have seen significant social and economic impacts and benefits:

  • Museum visitors >50% (Itoigawa)

  • 93% - Increased engagement with local and indigenous communities (UNESCO Survey)

  • 98% - Increased sustainable tourism (UNESCO Survey)

  • 85% - Driving Economic Development (UNESCO Survey)

  • 80% - Promoting Local Produce (UNESCO Survey)

  • Strategy

    Within Te Pātaka o Rākaihautū / Banks Peninsula Geopark various formats of visitor experiences and future opportunities exist. Te Pātaka o Rākaihautū / Banks Peninsula Geopark looks to provide a clear definition, and strong communication, of Banks Peninsula stories. The opportunity the Geopark offers is in furthering effective partnerships and strategies between the local visitor industry, local communities, local and regional partners, and local government.

  • Local

    The ability of the geological story to integrate into almost all elements (i.e. conservation, cultural, ecological, and farming) of Banks Peninsula makes it a valuable tool in the hands of innovative local groups. How this is enabled and delivered is most effectively undertaken by people with intimate local knowledge: the residents, communities, and businesses of Banks Peninsula. The Geopark will open new avenues for additional target markets, community growth, investment, and developments; and will lead to different and new ideas and opportunities.

  • Niche

    The number of niche tourists willing to travel to Banks Peninsula purely for the geology is limited and, therefore, it is particularly important that the Geopark is seen as offering a package covering different aspects of the peninsula’s natural and cultural heritage and directly linking with the peninsula’s varied communities.

EXPANDING STORIES

Overseas experience shows that partnerships within a Geopark enable further opportunities (i.e., education, guiding, ecotourism, community projects, employment, and sustainable development).

Interpretation panels will be the main aspect seen when visiting the Geopark. But what is conveyed on an interpretation panel is limited by panel size and graphic design constraints. We view interpretation panels as a stepping stone to a deeper dive which may be by self-discovery (i.e., online) or by a guide expanding on the panels.

 

Guiding within a Geosite opens opportunities for the embellishment of these stories. Importantly, the delivery of these expanded stories will be undertaken by the appropriate holder of this knowledge.

Overseas Geoparks employ their own employed guides, promote accredited guides, or have established guiding agreements with partners. Importantly, guiding provides employment opportunities within local communities.

 

EDUCATION OUTSIDE OF THE CLASSROOM

The Geopark is one large classroom. The Geopark provides a platform for development and delivery of educational resources and lesson plans for both learners and educators. Interpretation panels provide a resource for visiting groups that can be augmented with additional learning resources.

 

Overseas Geopark models have the Geopark employing its own educators to deliver outdoor learning experiences, to act as a coordinating agency linking to providers within the community, and to act as a platform for connecting learners with providers.

 

Education within the Geopark provides opportunities for specialist training and employment in the development and delivery of programmes.