Summer Learning Journey

Day 5: Maintaining the Status Quo (The 1990’s)

Activity 1: Hiking Tongariro

In 1990, one of the largest national parks in New Zealand, Tongariro, was listed as a World Heritage Site. It is a truly spectacular place to visit! Thousands of people go to Tongariro every year and hike the Tongariro Crossing. Visit the Tongariro website to learn more about the one-day hike.

On your blog tell us what you would need to pack if you were going to hike the Tongariro Crossing. What should you bring with you? Write a list of at least 5 items.

Water: probably the single most important item to bring with you on the hike is bottled water. There will be no location on the crossing in which you can refill your bottle because the water in the area is not drinkable due to the high acidity and mineral content. It is suggested that you bring a minimum of 2 litters of water with you, and possibly even more during the hot summer months.

Food: another essential for the trip is food. It is recommended to bring easily carried food like trail mix or granola bars as snacks for the journey, but you can also bring a small picnic lunch for when you reach the Red Carter. Just remember not to bring along too much because it’s always better to pack light.

Waterproof jacket and pants: since it can snow or rain at any given time during the trek, it is imperative that you bring a good set of waterproof outer clothing so that you don’t have to worry about getting soaked and risking hypothermia.

Hiking boots: it is also very important to have a good pair of durable boots because there are some areas of the mountain that have steep inclines, and regular shoes just won’t cut it. They will also help protect your feet from injury.

Layers of warm clothes: because of the fact that the temperature can drop rapidly, it is important to bring many layers of warm clothing such as thermals or even wool. Layers can also be added or removed very easily to help combat against temperature changes.

Gloves: having a good pair of gloves will not only protect you from cold weather, but they will also give you additional protection from the rough terrain. In certain areas of the trail, you will have to grab onto rocks to help you pull yourself up and over small obstacles.

Sunscreen, hat and sunglasses: these items are must-haves during the summer months in order to protect your skin from the sun beating directly down upon you. Nobody likes getting sunburned.

Map: even though the route is labeled very well, it is a good idea to have a map in case you do find yourself getting off course.

Mobile phone and first aid kit: in case of an emergency, a mobile phone will assure that you can be assisted properly. Also, First aid kits can be very helpful for small bumps and bruises.

By having all of these essential items, you can be assured that you will be well prepared for any situation that you may encounter along the way.

Fitness

One thing that should be considered is your level of fitness. There is no restriction on age or gender, but you must be able to walk 19 km over the duration of about 7 hours while carrying a day pack. There are also two sections of the crossing that can be quite steep and they take up to an hour to climb. As long as you are in relatively fair health and have a moderate level of fitness, there should be no problem to complete the trek.

Guides

If you are going to take on the trail during the summer months, then a guide is not needed. Although, taking a guide with you may add a lot of value to the journey because you can learn many interesting facts about the area along the way.

During the winter, a guide will be needed. Also, additional gear such as crampons and ice picks will be required. It is suggested that beginners should stick to the warmer months.

Other than making sure that you have the right equipment, what else should you do before heading out on a big hike? Click here to learn how to stay safe while you’re hiking.

Activity 2: Leading New Zealand

In the 1990s, four different individuals served as the Prime Minister of New Zealand – Geoffrey Palmer, Mike Moore, Jim Bolger and Jenny Shipley.

On your blog, write a short profile of one of our former Prime Ministers. Upload a photo of them with your post. Click on this link to find a copy of the template. Click on file and then click make a copy. This will save the blank template to your Google Drive so that you can fill it in. Post the completed template to your blog to earn points for this activity.

Profile of Mike Moore:

Bonus Activity: You Have to Pay to Play

In 1990, for the first time in New Zealand’s history, universities

and polytechnics started charging students money to go to

school. Prior to then, it had been free to go to university or to

a polytechnic.

Since 1990, students have had to pay thousands of dollars

to attend post-secondary (after high school) education.

The new Labour government have promised to give up to

three years of free post-secondary education to all New

Zealanders by 2020!

On your blog, tell us what you think. Should students have

to pay money (tuition fees) to go to university?

Why or why not?

My Opinion:
I think that students shouldn’t have to pay money to attend

university because if there are students that have great

belief in going to university and leading a good future then

they should be able to go to university and learn about what

they want to do for a living.

BONUS POINTS: 18