Kaikoura Peninsula
 A view of the peninsula. Read more about our extended trip to South Island: "Water from the Mountains to the Sea" Read an EcoQuest student journal about Kaikoura and Takahanga Marae |
Kaikoura has become a highlight of the South Island component of the program.
Situated on the northeastern coast of the South Island where the jagged ridges of the Southern Alps come within a few dozen kilometers of the coast, Kaikoura Peninsula is one of the few places where the mountains meet the sea. A network of undersea canyons brings an upwelling of cold, nutrient-rich waters from the southern ocean close to Kaikoura. This makes the area immediately off shore a rich feeding ground for fish, pelagic birds and marine mammals. Whales and dolphins frequent the area, and there is a fur seal colony on the peninsula.
Kaikoura is an area rich in Maori history and it is a place of great significance for the local iwi. Ngai Tahu first arrived in Kaikoura in 850 AD. Following European contact, the peninsula was the site of one of the first whaling stations in New Zealand. It also served as an agricultural center for a considerable period in more recent history. Today Kaikoura is known primarily as an ecotourism destination, with renowned opportunities to watch sperm whales and swim with dolphins. Kaikoura is one of several locations where we deliver components of our coastal marine studies and ecotourism studies during the 15-week semester program. We generally stay four nights at Takahanga Marae. On the marae, we work closely with the environmental health team from Te Tai o Marokura. Students learn about tikanga Maori (customs), te Ao Maori (worldview) and current environmental health issues in the district. |