Paper Industry

In the mid-20th century the paper industry in New Zealand boomed. There was plenty of raw material from maturing pine forests. The economy was expanding, and people needed more paper. Pulp and paper mills were set up in Auckland, Tokoroa, Whakatāne and Kawerau. The companies built towns at Kawerau and Tokoroa for their workers to live in.

The waste from pulp and paper mills pollutes the water and air. Mill effluent goes into rivers, and can harm plants and animals. Today mills are trying to reduce environmental damage.

Choice of Activities

• Begin your visit to the paper mill with a safety briefing and introduction 
• Tour the industrial site in the care of mill guides. 
• Visit the control centre and meet the staff 
• Discuss the chemistry of chemical production and recovery on site 
• Tour the site's environmental management facilities, including oxidation ponds
• Carry out simple tests on before and after samples water from the Tarawera river

New Zealand Certificate of Educational Achievement

• AS 90931 1.2 Demonstrate understanding of the chemistry in a technological application.
• AS 91162 1.3 Carry out procedures to identify ions in solution.

FAQ

Q1. Why do teachers choose to tour with Learning Journeys?

Using an outside provider like Learning Journeys allows you to avoid stress and save time to focus on the core demands of teaching and have more time with your family and friends.

• Trips are well tried and tested and our local knowledge, New Zealand-wide, is extensive. • We’ll facilitate your trip as well as planning, recce-ing AND booking it (including transport, food and accommodation). Have as much or as little input as you want.
• Our facilitators are secondary geography or science teachers with years of classroom as well as EOTC experience.
• Trips are curriculum linked and can include NCEA assessment tasks.
• RAMS forms, parents letters, gear lists and worksheets developed and provided for you.
• We’re Qualmarked (Tourism New Zealand has checked us out as a safe, professional, company) and Dept. of Conservation approved.

Q2. Does it cost more for Learning Journeys to organise and run my school's science and geography trips?

Yes it does cost a little more per student. However, you need to factor in the time you'll save by using Learning Journeys. You will also save the cost of relief for staff who would otherwise have come from your school, since Learning Journeys will provide one or more facilitators who will contribute to staff-student ratios.

Q3. What about risk management?

Safety is always paramount in our trip planning and delivery. We are acutely aware of the responsibility of being entrusted with other people’s children. We will provide you with RAMS forms for all activities included in your programme.

Our Health and Safety Plan deals with every aspect of our operations and training. Hazard identification is carried out for every new activity and a RAMS (Risk Analysis and Management System) form is prepared. This process has been audited both by a Department of Conservation approved Safety Auditor and as part of our Qualmark® accreditation

Our teacher-facilitators are trained in safe practice and all have First Aid qualifications. The suppliers we use are fully qualified and experienced in their specialist areas and where available we choose to work with Qualmarked® operators. Their sound safety records are further guaranteed by the Qualmark®, accreditation process.
Qualmark® is New Zealand tourism's official mark of quality. All accommodation and tourism businesses carrying the Qualmark® have been independently assessed as professional and trustworthy, so you can book and buy with confidence.

Q4. Who are your facilitators?

Our trips are managed and facilitated by qualified science or social science secondary teachers with classroom experience as well as many years’ experience in the field.

Q5. How long have you been running field trips for New Zealand secondary students?

Since 2001. Our oldest client did 12 consecutive yearly 3 day trips to Goat Island and Tiritiri Matangi Island. Most other schools repeat trips year after year.