Azarnia Parish - Year 12 student reports:
In Term 2 Ms Mackle took her Year 12 Earth and Space Science class on a Geology Field trip for their internal standard.
We first stopped at the geology rock garden at the University and we learnt how to identify different rock types of Banks Peninsula. We met the lecturer who made the rock garden.
We then headed to the top of the Port Hills, to Rapaki and up to Te Ahi-a-Tamatea – The Fire of Tamate, to identify rocks there. When we got to the top we got really close and identified the rock types. One of the rock types we identified was trachyte; an igneous, volcanic rock, and it was in a radial dyke. It came from the Lyttelton volcanic erosion and was 12 million years old.
It was surprisingly hard to chisel with our Geology axes we loaned from UC, but it was extremely beautiful once you look at the rock.
Earth and Space Science is a new course in 2026 at Mairehau High School at Level 2. It can lead to many career opportunities, in the emerging space industry, Geology, and helping manage natural hazards such as earthquakes, floods and landslips or just for interest.
If you have any questions please email Ms Mackle on -macklej@mairehau.school.nz
Yr 12 - Azarnia Parish
