There was a celebratory and, at times, emotional atmosphere at the Waitaki Whitestone Global Geopark Unesco designation ceremony yesterday (4-minute read).

On May 25, it was announced that Waitaki Whitestone Geopark was officially designated as New Zealand's first and Australasia’s only United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) Global Geopark.

Te Rūnaka o Moeraki upoko David Higgins welcomed a crowd of about 200 invited guests to the Ōamaru Opera House yesterday (May 31). All had played a part in making the Whitestone Waitaki Global Geopark dream a reality.

Speeches were made by Geopark Trust chair Helen Jansen, Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher, Tourism Minister Peeni Henare, and New Zealand National Commission for Unesco chairperson Liz Longworth. 

The group then headed for lunch at the Brydone Hotel, before going on a choice of two guided bus tours, either inland or coastal, to take in different sites of significance.

The official application was made to Unesco in 2019, but the work started long before then.

David Higgins, who was also one of the initial Geopark Trust members, said everybody involved in the Geopark journey should give themselves a “pat on the back”.

“We should be greatly proud as a community.” 

This was a sentiment that was echoed throughout the morning. 

Tourism minister Peeni Henare said there are two reasons people come to New Zealand - to see nature, and to share the culture.

“And what we . . . are celebrating here today on this momentous occasion . . . captures both of those things.

“It gives us a glimpse into how our world was formed but, more importantly, lights a pathway to what our future holds for us.”

He congratulated Helen and “her team”.

“Just like the Waitaki River, it was never a straight line. It was always going to have bends, it was always going to come up against obstacles, and sometimes you just have to forge your way through.” 

He described the official Unesco designation as a special gift to this country, and was proud to support the journey and see where it would lead.

He also announced an application made to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, through the Innovation Programme for tourism recovery, was successful, and $25,000 would be provided to support the initiative.

Liz Longworth said she was delighted to attend the day’s events with five other Unesco New Zealand commission members - “the full commission of Unesco New Zealand”. 

She offered “a massive congratulations”.

Unesco was formed in 1946, “in response to the horrors of World War II”, she said.

“The idea was that through education, through the sciences, through culture, through communication maybe we could work on the solutions together and have a much better peaceful co-existence going forward. 

“So that’s the base value that underpins something like a geopark.”

She acknowledged the “crucial, collaboration and generosity” of the Kāi Tahu Whānui whanau - especially Te Rūnaka o Moeraki and Kati Huirapa Rūnaka ki Puketeraki (near Karitane).

“In terms of the trust and respect that’s been forged, I want to acknowledge the gift, the gift of your understanding and guidance along what was sometimes a difficult road. The collaborative relationship that has ensued typifies the legacy of a successful geopark, and this is a story that needs to be told.”

Waitkai Whitestone can now use the registered Unesco Geopark brand as an internationally recognised mark of quality. 

It has become part of a global network that will help promote the Waitaki region to a domestic and international audience, and will provide access to an international support network that can further the growth of the park.

“This achievement is a result of vision, passion, patience and sheer hard work. The room today is full of people who have put their heart and soul into making this happen.”

Gary Kircher said this was “truly a memorable moment for Waitaki and New Zealand”.

“The significance to our district is great. The Geopark is the way we can best tell our many stories and how we can share our wonderful Waitaki with the whole world.”

The Waitaki has an abundance of attractions, in particular, the natural history and wildlife - the penguins, shags, seals and more; the “built heritage” with the Victorian buildings; the natural scenery “as beautiful and diverse as anywhere in the country”; and the human history.

“But most of all, the many stories of our manawhenua . . . these are the amazing gems we have to share,” he said. 

The Waitaki Whitestone Global Geopark provides an “umbrella for all those attractions” and stories. 

“The Unesco Global Geopark is a marketing tool - it’s a brand, but it’s also a way to view our special place in the world.

“It’s about the land and it’s about the way the land has shaped the people, and the people have shaped the land. It’s about education, it’s about promotion, it’s about preservation of our environment and it’s about acknowledging the people who have come before us,” Gary said.

He was grateful to the “many, many people” who had contributed to this achievement.

The history behind the Geopark

Unesco defines a Global Geopark as “a single, unified geographical area, where sites and landscapes of international geological significance are managed with a holistic concept of protection, education and sustainable development”, Geopark Trust chair Helen Jansen said.

Helen, who has been Geopark Trust chairperson since 2019 with a brief reprieve in 2021, was at times emotional when she spoke.

She explained how the idea of having a Geopark in the Waitaki developed because of Otago University Emeritus Professor Ewan Fordyce’s studies of the limestone in the district, which he carried out from the 1980s until recently.

“He knew that for 10 million years it had been an ancient underwater world, teeming with extraordinary marine animals - ancestors of sharks, dolphins, whales, penguins, turtles and myriads of smaller creatures the remains of which are in the rock beneath our farmland,” Helen said.

In 2000, Prof. Fordyce, together with members of the community, opened the Vanished World Centre in Duntroon, and formed the Vanished World Trail around North Otago, showing where the fossils were buried.

In 2013, he applied, unsuccessfully, for the community-led initiative to join the then Global Geopark network. That was two years before Unesco introduced its Global Geopark designation, Helen said.

In 2017, “keeping the dream alive”, Duntroon residents Mike Gray and Faye Ormandy introduced the Vanished World to then Waitaki District Council chief executive Fergus Power and mayor Gary Kircher, and the support was encouraging.

They picked it up, and with the help of GNS Science expanded the concept, she said. 

“Here was an opportunity to promote the district, tell the stories of the land, life, and culture, while stimulating economic development by encouraging visitors through the Waitaki District on their way to and from Queenstown.” 

The Waitaki Whitestone Geopark Trust was established in 2018, in partnership with the manawhenua Te Rūnaka o Moeraki.

The first three trustees were Mike Gray, Gary Kircher, and David Higgins.

The Unesco application was led by then council economic development manager Gerard Quin and it arrived in Paris in 2019. 

The number of trustees increased in 2019, and the partnership with the Rūnaka deepened significantly in 2020 when Trevor McGlinchey was appointed as a council nomination on the trust, and artist Ross Hemera was brought on board to assist with the development of the new logo.

Lisa Heinz replaced Gerard in October 2021, after he moved to Christchurch. 

“She has her finger on the complicated pulse of collaboration, promotion, project development, event management and support of the board of trustees,” Helen said. 

“I know that her swan-like serenity hides tremendously vigorous paddling.”

Helen thanked Global Geopark Network president Nickolas Zouros and Anchel Belmonte Ribas who visited in July last year.

While they had suggestions for improvements, they were also impressed, particularly with the partnership with the manawhenua and wider community, the internationally significant geology, and the work that had already been done. 

“As chair of the Waitaki Whitestone Geopark trust - I am humbled to stand on the shoulders of all of those who dreamt, worked and contributed in some way to bring this marvellous vision to life.”