Science Tourism lands in Wairarapa for the summer season
A new space-focused pop-up exhibition in Wairarapa over the summer is the first of its kind in New Zealand.
16 December 2022
Press Release
A new space-focused pop-up exhibition in Wairarapa over the summer is the first of its kind in New Zealand.
Based on a family-friendly theme, the Wairarapa Space Science Centre, will offer people the chance to have several interactive experiences and learn more about what lies outside of Earth’s realm and how humans are interacting with those vast expanses.
The Wairarapa Space Science Centre is a project of the New Zealand Astrobiology Network Charitable Trust, and opens for the public on Tuesday 20th of December. It is located in Carterton’s former NZ Post Office building, generously provided by the Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa Tāmāki nui-a-Rua Settlement Trust.
The couple behind the Wairarapa Space Science Centre are self-confessed space geeks, Haritina (Hari) Mogoşanu and Sam Leske.
Hari is the Executive Director of the New Zealand Astrobiology Network and has an impressive career in the space sciences. She’s worked at NASA’s Ames Research Center in California, was the Senior Science Communicator at Museums Wellington Space Place at Carter Observatory and is currently involved in space science outreach education in New Zealand.
Sam is a former RNZAF pilot, senior public servant, and intelligence officer, who’s had a life-long interest in astronomy and astrophysics.
Together they run education programmes in schools, and in the last 12 months alone, they’ve talked ‘space science’ with more than 12,000 students from 62 schools across the country.
A focus at the Carterton-based centre is an exhibition called ‘Look After Our Night Sky’, designed in anticipation of Wairarapa attaining an international Dark Sky Reserve accreditation status. An application for Reserve status has been submitted and is awaiting feedback from the International Dark Sky Association based in the USA.
Hari says that a Dark Sky Reserve status would honour Wairarapa’s amazing natural treasure and would also be a world-class accreditation upon which astrotourism interest can be developed.
The Carterton exhibition highlights what it means for a region to have a Dark Sky Reserve status, how people can reduce the amount of light they generate which ultimately impacts the night sky, and how they can participate further in citizen science projects that map dark skies around the world.
A section on Mars will showcase the latest updates on the red planet, including fascinating information and large visuals. People will also get to drive a model of a Mars rover designed by the European Space Agency, which is due for launch to Mars in 2028.
If you’ve ever wanted to have a look around the International Space Station with your own eyes, then you’ll be able to visit there via the virtual reality headsets which promise to provide the ‘far out’ factor.
Hari and Sam’s enthusiasm for the cosmos is clear and visitors to the exhibition will feel their combined obsession for all things stars, space and science. They both have a natural gift for making these topics fun, exciting, and more importantly, relatable to every person’s experience.
“Our dark skies in Wairarapa are amazing – the night sky is a treasure and needs to be protected, Hari explains.
“New Zealand does ‘space’ well and we already have many companies doing interesting things in the space sector right now and we’d like more people to know about what’s going on.
“Astrotourism is a huge opportunity for Wairarapa and there’s significant room for growth as the sector matures and people become more aware of the reserve.
The couple are confident that Wairarapa could become a centre of knowledge tourism; this is where tourists are seeking meaningful and enriching experiences where they learn something from experts in their fields. At the first New Zealand Aerospace Summit this year it was said that New Zealand is the fourth most important space nation on the planet.”
Hari and Sam believe there are many aspects to space sciences that people can become involved with – from citizen science projects through to actually working in the space sector.
Future opportunities for young people particularly are vast, and such an exhibition can open people’s minds and get them thinking about their potential future in space-centred industries.
“We especially want to open up children’s eyes and inspire them to realise that a career in the space sciences sector is a real possibility for them.”
