Ceremony marks new status for geopark

Tourism Minister Peeni Henare speaks at an official ceremony for the Waitaki Whitestone Geopark, designated as the first and only United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) Global Geopark in New Zealand.

The executive board of Unesco endorsed the nomination during its latest session last week, much to the joy of the park’s supporters.

There are only 19 others given the same status in the southern hemisphere and New Zealand is now one of just 48 countries in the world that has a designated geopark.

The Waitaki Whitestone Geopark covers an area of more than 7000sqkm and has many different sites across the district, including limestone cliffs, glacial valleys and ancient marine fossils.

The ceremony yesterday marked the new status of the park, which is expected to increase tourism in the area.