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There’s a chance to dive deep into the waters of the Hauraki Gulf without getting wet, when Blake NZ brings a virtual reality (VR) underwater experience to the Enviro Expo in Warkworth on Saturday, June 22.
Using a number of 360 degree videos and headsets, the former Sir Peter Blake Trust will show expo visitors realistic virtual views from beneath local waters that compare and contrast various marine environments.
Blake NZ’s senior discovery programme manager, Thomas Morris, says VR is a fun and educational way to make it easier to genuinely understand and feel the difference between healthy and unhealthy marine landscapes.
“VR headsets transform the way we interact with digital content,” he says. “They take us beyond the traditional screen-based experience and immerse us in virtual environments, where we can explore, create, learn, and interact in ways that were previously unimaginable.”
Blake NZ-VR was launched four years ago to take underwater exploration and education into schools across Aotearoa NZ, with a simple aim – “if we can’t take every child to the ocean, let’s bring the ocean to every child”.
As well as a sense of wonder at being able to “swim” with rays and other sealife, Morris says students come away from the sessions with a deeper understanding of kaitiakitanga, or guardianship, and practical action they can take to help protect the ocean.
“They learn what causes ocean damage and what actions can be taken to protect the marine environment,” he says.
For the Enviro Expo, there will be four half-hour sessions running from 10am to noon, with 20 participants in each – and they are for all ages, not just students. There is no charge to take part, but places do need to be booked.
Then, from 12.30pm onwards, there will be a limited number of shorter sessions for casual walk-ins, which will be limited to eight participants at a time, and subject to space and availability.
“We will be focusing our sessions on the Hauraki Gulf and the threats this amazing environment is facing, as this is most relevant to the event and its participants,” Morris says
“Please book a session so that you don’t miss out on this amazing experience.”
Info and bookings: https://events.humanitix.com/enviro-expo-and-blake-nz-virtual-reality-underwater-experience-mudvgdx
