Student materials
Ecotourism programme student materials
To make the most of your time studying Ecotourism at Tai Poutini Polytechnic and if you intend to go into the industry as a guide or tourism operator we recommend that you obtain the following list of equipment.
Suggested outdoor gear list:
- Boots: Most of our tramping is on well-maintained walking tracks. However good quality boots are essential because of the weather. Leather or waterproof material is best.
- Backpack: A 65-litre backpack is a minimum requirement for our overnight trips. Research different products from different retailers. If you do not do a lot of tramping outside of the Ecotourism programme a cheaper brand pack may well prove adequate.
- Sleeping Bag: You will need a three-season sleeping bag. Note - we will be sleeping in huts during the winter.
- Polypropylene: Clothing made of this material can keep you warm when it gets wet and is invaluable for the outdoors. Merino is another good option however is a lot more expensive. Woollen clothing can also be worn but is usually heavy when wet. Discuss the pros and cons of clothing on offer with any outdoor clothing outlet.
- Waterproof jacket: Waterproof jackets are essential for any outdoor guide. There are a variety of fabrics that keep out the weather. Cheaper types include japara and plastic. If you buy one serious type of outdoor clothing item this year we recommend it be made of Gortex. Although Gortex is expensive it keeps you warm and makes your time in the outdoors so much more fun.
- Fleece tops: Are invaluable as they are lightweight, warm and quick-drying.
- Cooking equipment: Students are required to bring their own plates, cup and cutlery for outdoor trips. We supply the cookers and other gear.
There are two items that will improve your study, both for research and the completion of your assessments while at Tai Poutini Polytechnic.
- Laptop computer: There is wireless broadband capacity in the student canteen, some classrooms, the library and some of the student accommodation.
- Digital Camera: On the Ecotourism programme we visit some of the most beautiful places on the planet up and down the West Coast you will not want to miss the wonderful photographic opportunities.
Important Websites
- www.tppweb.ac.nz/ Tai Poutini Polytechnic Website
- www.ecotourismnz.com (ecotourism students will be expected to contribute content to this web site and share their ecotourism experiences in forums or share photos and videos from their experiences over the year with Tai Poutini Polytechnic)
Course text books
Students on the Certificate in Ecotourism will be given the following text books as part of the Course Costs.
 
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Dawson J. & Lucus R., 2004, Nature Guide to the New Zealand Forest Godwit House, Auckland, New Zealand |
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Gibbs, g. Ghosts of Gondwana, Craig Potton Publishing Reed Publishing (NZ) Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand |
King, M. The Penguin History of New Zealand, Illustrated. Penguin, 2007
Thornton J., 2003, The Reed Field Guide to New Zealand Geology, Mountain Safety Council Bushcraft Manual, 2007 edition
Useful reading matierals
There is a mountain of good reading that assists you to understand the issues surrounding New Zealand ‘s environment , Maori and European heritage and issues that surround the world we live in. This list will provide you with some interesting starting points. Common among today’s literature is the popularisation of sciences through such books as Barbara Freese’s Human History of Coal and Bill Byrson’s “A Short History of Nearly Everything”. These types of book tend to be very readable and add substantially to your knowledge of subjects relevant to Ecotourism. Most of the tourists who venture on Ecotours tend to be well read and travelled people. It is the hope that students of Ecotourism will also get into understanding the issues of the world around them.
Remember many radio and TV Stations give you the opportunity to download programmes, news items and interviews that may be useful to your study such as:
Websites that are useful to this programme (again the list is endless but here are some good ones):
- http://www.teara.govt.nz/ The New Zealand Encyclopaedia Online
- http://www.dnzb.govt.nz/dnzb/ The Dictionary of New Zealand Biography
- http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/
- http://www.maoridictionary.co.nz/
- www.nzpcn.org.nz/ New Zealand Plant Conservation Network.
- www.doc.govt.nz/ Department of Conservation.
- www.interpretation.co.nz
Students while on Campus can access the online catalogue of the Polytechnic Library http://gmhwlib1/eLMWeb/jadehttp.dll?NewWebOpac . Below is a list of Ecotourism books available. Important to remember that the list is always changing and that it is worth checking out the link or asking our incredibly knowledgeable librarian Daphne Smithers. Ext 7707
Tai Poutini Polytechnic library resources
Here are some of the magazines, journals and books that are useful and are held at the Tai Poutini Polytechnic library:
- New Zealand Wilderness magazine
- New Zealand Adventure magazine
- Academic Journals held at Tai Poutini Polytechnic Library
- Journal of Ecotourism
- Journal of Sustainable Tourism
- Journal of Heritage Tourism
- Relevant Books held in the Library
- Beeton, Sue Ecotourism: a practical guide for rural communities. Landlinks Press. 2000
- Buckley, R. Case Studies in ecotourism. CABI 2003
- Buckley, R. Environmental Impacts of Ecotourism. CABI 2004
- Cameron, A. Evolving role of local government in promoting sustainable tourism development on the West Coast. 2001.
- Carr. A. Ecotourism a research bibliography. Dept of Tourism Otago University: 2001
- Duffy, R. A trip too far: Ecotourism politics and exploitation. Earthscan. 2002
- Fennell, D Ecotourism programme planning. CABI 2002
- Fennell, D. Ecotourism. Routledge, 2008
- Gilbert. J. Ecotourism means business. GP Publications. 1997
- Higham, J. Ecotourism in New Zealand; profiling visitors to NZ ecotourism operations, Research paper Otago University. 2001
- McKercher, B. The Business of Nature Based Tourism. Hospitality Press. 1998
- Norman, D Special interest turism: context and cases. Wiley Australia. 2001
- Warren, J. Developing Ecotourism in New Zealand. NZ Institute for Social Research and Development ,1994.
- Weaver, D. The Encyclopaedia of Ecotourism. CABI Publishing 2001
- Explore New Zealand. An Interpretation Resource for Tourism Concessionaires. Department of Conservation.
- Interpretation handbook and standard: Distilling the essence. Communication in Conservation of Natural Resources. NZ. Department of Conservation.
- Bellamy, D. Moa’s Ark The Voyage of New Zealand. Penguin Books. 1990
- Graham, IJ. New Zealand on the Move. Craig Potton Publishing. 2008
- Young, D. Our Islands Our selves. A Conservation History of New Zealand, 2004
- Salmon, J.T The Native Trees of New Zealand. Reed Books, 1980
- Malloy, L. New Zealand’s Wilderness Heritage, Craig Potton Publishing. 2007
- Bennett, S. Don’t Forget Your Scroggin. Craig Potton Publishing. 2007
- Shaun Barnet. Tramping In New Zealand. Craig Potton Publishing. 2006.
- Heather, B. & Robertson,H. The Field Guide to Birds of New Zealand. Penguin 2006
- Some Popular Science Books.
- Bryson, B. A. A Short History of Nearly Everything. Broadway Books 2004
- Freese, B. Coal a Human History. Basic Books 2003
- Kurlansky, M. Cod: A Biography of the Fish that Changed the World. Penguin, 2003
Remember. The subject areas we teach are currently very topical and books and websites are being created and published all the time. If you find any resource that you believe is relevant to the course please let us know.
Tai Poutini Polytechnic tourism research
These reports can be accessed via the Tai Poutini Polytechnic web site. http://www.tppweb.ac.nz/rreports.php
- A Snapshot of the Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism Industries in New Zealand (29/10/2008)
- Access Tourism for People with Disabilities, the New Zealand Tourism Strategy, and other New Zealand Government Strategies (27/08/2008)
- West Coast Student Participation in secondary and Tertiary Education (27/06/2008)
- Tourism for Visitors to New Zealand with Mobility Problems: a West Coast perspective (01/05/2007)
- The Need for a Human Resources Development Officer for the Tourism Industry on the West Coast (17/10/2006)
- West Coast Tourism Industry Training Needs (15/09/2006)
- A Snapshot of the Tourism Industry on the West Coast (04/09/2006)
