Guidebook for ‘Land and Lakes’ field trip, New Zealand Society of Soil Science Biennial Conference, Rotorua

Welcome to Rotorua. The trip today (28th November, 2006) has twin themes: “Land and soil in the making” and “Land and soil management for cleaner water”. It offers an opportunity for participants to ‘peep behind the scenes’ at the wonderful volcanic landscapes, ash layers, soils, and waters of the Lake Rotorua−Lake Okaro−Lake Rerewhakaaitu areas in the Rotorua region. We hope the trip will be an informative, interesting and enjoyable day out with something for everyone. We will look at the linkages between soils and water and show how science and society are working together to understand and reduce the impacts of municipal, farming and forestry activities on our environment. Multiple layers of tephras, clear examples of buried soil horizons, and three remarkable soil profiles will be seen. Soil and environmental scientists, foresters, tephrochronologists (volcanic ash specialists), and volcanologists will join forces with local farmers and others to give us their perspectives at various stops during the trip