This document provides guidance for a student completing an assessment on the contemporary geographic issue of fracking in New Zealand. It outlines three tasks: 1) describe what fracking is and its effects; 2) explain different viewpoints on fracking; and 3) evaluate three courses of action regarding fracking and recommend one. For task 1, it provides details to include and sentence starters. For task 2, it lists groups/individuals with different perspectives and suggests explaining how viewpoints may change. For task 3, it identifies the three courses of action and instructs the student to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of each and justify their choice.

2. Explain aspects of a contemporary New Zealand
geographic issue
Yes or No to Fracking in NZ?
Internal Assessment AS91245

3. Task 1
Describe the nature of the contemporary
geographic issue
Write a report which describes the nature of this
issue. It should include the following things.
Explain what Fracking is, why it is done and
where it occurs in New Zealand.
Explain why the location of Fracking is important.
Describe one effect this issue has on people.
Describe one effect this issue has on the
environment.

4. Possible sentence starters
Fracking is……..
Fracking is done because……..
It is done in NZ in areas such as ……….
It is done in these areas because……….
It affects these areas because……….
It can affect people in the following ways……..
It can affect the environment in the following
ways……….

5. Task 2 a
Explain different viewpoints on the contemporary geographic issue
In the box below are groups and individuals with different viewpoints on Fracking
in New Zealand.
Tag Oil - Taranaki
Gareth Scott – The Green Party
Jan Wright – Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment
Sarah Roberts – Owner of a farm in Taranaki near Tag Oil, Cheal Site.
For each of the above groups of people and individuals, explain in detail their
viewpoint on Fracking. Do they support it or believe it should be banned or its
use limited?
Give reasons why each person or group holds that particular viewpoint.
Remember to use specific information, including perspectives, geographic
terminology and geographic concepts.
Select one person or group in the box above, and explain in detail how their
viewpoint might change over time. For example, what events or factors might
affect the viewpoint? Would the person or group change their viewpoint if they

6. Perspectives????
a way of looking at (viewing) situations, facts, etc.,
and judging their relative importance.
So if you are a member of the
Green Party you will be looking
at things from an Environmental
perspective.
However if you are a Director of an Oil
Company you will be trying to make as
much money as possible. So you will
have a perspective that is money
orientated.

7. What about the perspective of the
Parliamentary Commissioner?
Hired to examine
Fracking and
produce a report for
the government on
the advantages and
disadvantages of its
use in NZ.
She should be
unbiased.

8. Geographic Concepts?????

9. Possible sentence starters – Task 2
The Tag Oil company believe that
Fracking………because…..
This is shown by………(quote from the resources that
you have – explain why you think they hold this
particular viewpoint and use evidence to prove this)
Gareth Scott of the Green Party believes that
Fracking …………. because……. This is shown by
……….. ………(quote from the resources that you
have – explain why you think they hold this particular
viewpoint and use evidence to prove this)

10. Fracking in the USA
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-3445_162-
57561263/digging-into-the-practice-of-fracking/

11. Task 2 – part b
Tag Oil - Taranaki
Gareth Scott – The Green Party
Jan Wright – Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment
Sarah Roberts – Owner of a farm in Taranaki near Tag Oil, Cheal Site.
Select one person or group in the box above and
explain in detail how their viewpoint might change
over time. For example, what events or factors
might affect their viewpoint? Would the person or
group change their viewpoint if they heard other
people’s viewpoints on the issue?

12. Possible sentence starters… task 2b
I think ????????? may change his/her viewpoint in
the future if…..
New evidence is found of pollution….
Proved that Fracking is not responsible for the
water pollution.
Fracking fails to provide a lot of jobs or bring a lot
of money into NZ.
Fracking can be done without causing any
damage to the environment…

13. Task 3
There are three different courses of action which could be taken on
the issue of Fracking.
Ban Fracking in New Zealand
Allow Fracking to continue but with more regulation (rules and safety
checks introduced to limit pollution and risk)
Allow Fracking to continue unregulated.
a) Write a report which comprehensively evaluates each course of
action.
This means explain the strengths and weaknesses of each action.
Use specific evidence to support your explanation. Use the information
attached and from your own research to support any arguments you
make.
b) Decide which of the courses of action is the best option.
Explain why you think this is the best decision and provide detailed
reasons supporting this course of action.
Explain why you did not choose the other two options.

14. Task 3 a
Write a paragraph about each of the actions that
could be taken over the issue of Fracking. Explain
the strengths (good things) and the weaknesses
(bad things) about each choice.
E.g.
If we were to ban Fracking in New Zealand this
would mean that …… which would be good for the
……However it would also mean that …………..
This is shown by….
If we allow Fracking to continue it will mean
that…………. However it would also
affect….leading to…… This is shown by…..
You need to do this for all three of the courses of action!!!!

15. Return of Assessments
Please sign and date the sheet if you
are happy with the grade you have
achieved.
If you wish to have an opportunity to
resubmit – please write “RS” on the front
cover sheet.