Te pūngao puia – Geothermal energy
Kia ora, welcome to our collection on te pūngao puia, geothermal energy.
This collection is drawn from and supports the student activity Develop a science-informed response to a local socio-scientific issue where students explore the issue of using a specific pūngao puia resource while considering varying perspectives and developing a response.
More information on the assessment of this activity can be found here.
The Devil’s Bath at Wai-O-Tapu geothermal area
Pūngao puia, geothermal energy is a great topic to explore - it's such as important part of the history and future of Aotearoa.
Note: Articles on the Science Learning Hub all have a glossary page. Here you will find key words and what they mean.
For example, go to the article Geothermal power and click on the glossary tab to the right of the resource tab.
Here you can select and download terms that are helpful.
You will need to know words like: energy, renewable, nonrenewable, heat transfer, geology... and others.
Socio-scientific issues - overview
For this activity, a local socio-scientific issue is an issue about which people hold varying opinions and perspectives: 'local' refers to the issue being of interest or importance to the student.
You may want to give examples of other socio-scientific issues such as:
Geothermal power
Background
Te pūngao puia is geothermal energy that is generated within the Earth and used by people for a variety of purposes.
Explore te pūngao puia in Aotearoa New Zealand. Before you identify the aspect of te pūngao puia that you want to focus on for your issue you will need to find information on relevant science.
Resources:
- Contacts within your local iwi or mana whenua - please check with your school liasion
- Te reo Māori resource: Pūngao puia – ngā motika wai māori
- Te Ara: A geothermal system
- Renewable energy sources — Science Learning Hub
- Non-renewable energy sources — Science Learning Hub
- Māori and geothermal resources | Waikato Regional Council (explore their other geothermal resources too)
- New Zealand Geothermal Association | Uses of Geothermal Resources
- GNS: Earth Energy / Science Topics / Learning / Home
- Iwi and council back geothermal deal | RNZ News
- Contact and iwi work with African tribe to find energy solutions | Stuff.co.nz
- Geothermal energy – Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand
- Geothermal energy generation | Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment
- Geo40 partner with Maori on world-leading energy project | Scoop News
- Geothermal energy critical if NZ is to reach carbon-zero by 2050 | Stuff.co.nz
- Geothermal Generation | Geothermal Plants | Mercury | Mercury
Explore pūrakau:
Research local narratives about pūngao puia.
A well known narrative is of Ngātoroirangi.
- Ngātoroirangi and Kaitiakitanga: - listen to Sir Tumu te Heuheu
- Animation : The legend of Ngatoroirangi, a tohunga (high priest) of Te Arawa, Aotearoa
Identify the issue: what is an aspect of te pūngao puia that people hold varying opinions and perspectives on?
Spend time investigating the different perspectives that groups and individuals hold on te pūngao puia
Think about kaitiakitanga in the context of te pūngao puia
Prompts:
- will this resource continue to provide for all those who use it?
- how can we protect this resource?
- how can we better respond to different perspectives / stakeholders?
Ethics thinking toolkit
You may want to use this resource to support the process of identifying various perspectives on an issue. Page 7 of the toolkit helps to unpack Pluralism - an ethical approach that recognises that ethical decisions are viewed differently by different people.
Kaitiakitanga
Kaitiakitanga is the concept of guardianship, stewardship for living things and resources. In this Standard, a kaitiakitanga approach is one that demonstrates guardianship or stewardship for self, others, whānau, and the environment.
Kaitiakitanga is part of a science-informed response and could include:
- taking a position on an issue
- devising an action to address an issue
- taking action to address an issue.
kaitiakitanga
Do you agree with this definition? Is there more you could add? What examples can you think of?
The following resources give examples of some geothermal uses and issues from Aoteatoa.
Restoring Rotorua’s natural geothermal taonga
Learn about geothermal activity and use in the Rotorua area.
Rotorua geothermal field: protecting a taonga
Video from the previous article.
Geothermal vent
Geothermal activity can create beautiful landscape features but also can deposit heavy metals into the surrounding environment.
Wastewater in the Waikato
Geothermal power stations create waste water.
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