Museum staff taking climate change exhibition to Tonga

Two Otago Museum staff will fly to Tonga next weekend as part of moves to boost awareness of climate change challenges in the Pacific.

Museum visitor experience and science engagement director Dr Craig Grant said the museum's popular "Far From Frozen" exhibition would feature in the educational trip to schools in Tonga, and later in Fiji and Samoa.

He was "really excited" about the latest initiative, which also involved three University of Otago staff, and was backed by a $27,500 Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade grant to help with transport costs.

This follows a successful "Far From Frozen" showcase visit to schools on Niue and the Cook Islands last year.

"It proved so effective last year that it's great to be able to share with more of our Pacific Island neighbours.

"This year we're going to places with larger populations too, so are trying to stay for a bit longer to reach more of the schools and communities there," he said.

The visiting team would visit Tongan schools between June 10 and 18.

The other dates were yet to be confirmed, but it was hoped that visits to Fiji and Samoa could take place between August and October this year.

The museum had partnered with the university division of sciences Pacific outreach team, and some of its staff would be helping with the programme in Tonga.

The aim was to introduce "some of the science behind climate change"- including the role of the Antarctic in potential future changes - so such changes became "more understandable", he said.

The visiting team would also discuss potential local effects in Tonga.

These would include "sea level rise, more extreme weather events and bleaching of coral reefs", he said.

The exhibition was developed by the museum, in partnership with Antarctic New Zealand.