According to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment ‘New Zealand has in-ground coal resources of more than 16 billion tonnes, of which 80% are lignite in the South Island.

Coal production is centred in:

• the Waikato — mainly for several major industrial users, and the Huntly power station

• the West Coast — mainly for export

• Otago/Southland — mainly for local industrial markets’.

NZ equally has a big thrust toward more renewable sources of energy, with a sizeable portion large of New Zealand's total primary energy supply (TPES) coming from renewable resources - hydro, geothermal, wind and bioenergy’.

Introducing our rangatahi to the energy contained in the sun was the primary aim of our workshops. Students learnt how light shines on these photovoltaic ( PV ) cells – solar cells – enabling them to power many everyday objects. Their eyes were full of wonder and delight as things moved once they were out in the sun.

It truly was a fun-filled day of learning for all.