Download This Sample
This sample is exclusively for KidsKonnect members!
To download this worksheet, click the button below to signup for free (it only takes a minute) and you'll be brought right back to this page to start the download!
Sign Me Up
Table of Contents
Te Wahipounamu encompasses four national parks in the southwest corner of New Zealand – Aoraki/Mt Cook, Fiordland, Mt Aspiring, and Westland. These parks collectively became a World Heritage Site under the name “Te Wahipounamu” in 1990.
See the fact file below for more information on the Te Wahipounamu or alternatively, you can download our 23-page World Heritage Sites: Te Wahipounamu worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.
Key Facts & Information
History and Legend of Te Wahipounamu
- The rocks, plants, and animals located in Te Wahipounamu can be traced back to over 80 million years ago when New Zealand was part of the ancient supercontinent Gondwana.
- Gondwana is said to have merged with the supercontinent Euroamerica to form the larger subcontinent named Pangaea, which broke up during the Mesozoic Era.
- Te Wahipounamu exhibits many great examples of geological processes that have shaped the earth, including tectonic, climatic, and glacial processes.
- The region is divided by a fault line that marks where the Australian and Pacific continental plates make contact; this is what created the main mountain range, the Southern Alps.
- The legend of Te Wahipounamu states that the area was formed when the four sons of Rakinui (the Sky Father) came down from heaven and sailed around Mother Earth; as a result of hitting a reef, the sons became stranded.
- Next, their canoe was frozen with ice due to wind from the Tasman Sea, and this is what became the South island of New Zealand.
- As a result, each brother became part of the mountain range known as the Southern Alps.
- There are some other legends for how Te Wahipounamu came into existence, but this is the most popular one.
- The mountains and valleys of Te Wahipounamu are said to be the places of Atua (gods); important cultural identifiers of these places belong to the ancestors who stood on the landscape and performed great deeds in New Zealand.
Geography of Te Wahipounamu
- Te Wahipounamu is an excellent example of how geological processes resulted in landforms, unique biota, and evolutionary adaptation over a diverse range of altitudes and climates.
- Te Wahipounamu covers almost 10% of New Zealand’s total land area with ice-carved fjords, lakes, mountains, and valleys.
- It is home to many active glaciers, and is the largest and least-modified area of New Zealand’s natural ecosystem.
- The flora and fauna in the area are some of the best modern and intact representations of Gondwana, and are indisputably linked to the processes at work.
- The vegetation in Te Wahipounamu is very diverse and has been well-maintained.
- You might come into contact with shrubs, herbs, and tussocks (pictured right).
- Te Wahipounamu is home to the largest population of forest birds in New Zealand.
- You may also find fur seals (pictured left), as well as a variety of Kiwi species, Fiordland Penguins (pictured below), and other birds.
- There is a high degree of geo and biodiversity due to largely unmodified habitats and an array of untouched landforms.
- All flora and fauna at Te Wahipounamu are excellent examples of ongoing biological evolution.
Tourism and Other Facts about Te Wahipounamu
- The Te Wahipounamu area is the least populated area of New Zealand; residents typically work in tourism-related jobs or land use occupations.
- Most of the land in Te Wahipounamu is owned by the government and people of New Zealand and there is a legislative mandate that requires the preservation and protection of the natural and historic sites in New Zealand.
- There are only two main roads in the region; both referred to as “Heritage Highway”.
- Studies have shown that the motivating factor for visiting Te Wahipounamu is for its scenery and recreational activities.
- Things visitors can do are hiking, walking, whale-watching, boat tours, rafting, and glacier walks.
- Te Wahipounamu offers an extensive assortment of short walking and overnight hiking trails.
World Heritage Sites: Te Wahipounamu Worksheets
This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about Te Wahipounamu across 23 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use World Heritage Sites: Te Wahipounamu worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about the Te Wahipounamu which encompasses four national parks in the southwest corner of New Zealand – Aoraki/Mt Cook, Fiordland, Mt Aspiring, and Westland. These parks collectively became a World Heritage Site under the name “Te Wahipounamu” in 1990.
Complete List Of Included Worksheets
- Te Wahipounamu Facts.
- Map of New Zealand.
- Gondwana.
- Te Wahipounamu Crossword.
- The Treaty of Waitangi.
- Te Wahipounamu Wordsearch.
- Words Within a Word!
- Te Wahipounamu Quiz.
- National Park Profile.
- Postcard from Te Wahipounamu.
- Fill-in-the-Blanks.
Link/cite this page
If you reference any of the content on this page on your own website, please use the code below to cite this page as the original source.
Link will appear as Te Wahipounamu Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, July 19, 2018
Use With Any Curriculum
These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.