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Waitaki Whitestone Geopark could soon be recognised as a UNESCO Global Geopark. It will be the first of its kind in Australasia.
This month commissioners will visit geosites in the South Island district, and see if it's up to scratch to be given the go ahead by the cultural agency later this year.
Not every pretty town gets the honour, Global Geoparks must have value. So what does Waitaki have that makes it so special?
To answer that question we're joined by one of the people behind the bid, director of the Vanished World Centre at Duntroon, Mike Gray.