Discovery

THE NEW ZEALAND COAL INDUSTRY -- A RESOURCE FOR SENIOR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS by Lyn Morris; Enterprise New Zealand Trust with Coal Research Association of New Zealand Inc, 1997; 31 pp; $10 (to schools) or $15 (to businesses) -- only available through Enterprise New Zealand Trust, P O Box 31-545 Lower Hutt

Reviewed by John Boereboom

The emphasis of this booklet is on the economic factors relating to the New Zealand coal industry. It contains some sections which make it a potential resource of background material for the Making Sense of Planet Earth and Beyond strand of the science curriculum.

The chapter on environmental issues focuses on the impact of coal mining on the landscape, the greenhouse effect and international agreements to reduce CO₂ emissions. This is useful as a source of information for student projects based on the achievement objectives at Level 7. The section on the formation and classification of coal is relevant as a resource for Level 6.

John Boereboom is a Senior Lecturer at the Christchurch College of Education.