NCEA Level 2 Geography (90334) 2008 — page 1 of 11
Assessment Schedule – 2008
Geography: Apply skills and ideas, in a geographic context (90334)
Evidence Statement
Question
Evidence
One
(a) (i)
Satellite / Aerial Photography
A: the topography is flat /
plain
B: the topography is rolling /
hill country.
(a) (ii)
A: there is intensive land use
B: the land use is less
intensive / extensive.
Correct answers.
(b)
Topography
Satellite: Block B: Shadows
on hills / in valleys show hilly
topography.
Aerial Photo: Can see edge of
hilly country and start of flat /
rectangular paddocks show
that the land is flat in A.
Refers to evidence
from ONE resource
only or from both
resources but only
one of topography
or land use.
eg
Topography: In the
aerial photograph,
you can tell the
land is flat in A by
the large numbers
of square or
rectangular
paddocks.
eg
Land Use: In the
satellite image, the
red colour shows
that there is a
pasture growing
well in A compared
to tussock in B.
Refers to evidence
from BOTH
resources for BOTH
land use and
topography.
States which
resource is better
and gives a brief
explanation of why
ONE resource is
preferred.
eg
The satellite image
is better because it
is easier to see the
shadows on it.
States which
resource is better
and gives a detailed
explanation of why
ONE resource is
preferred.
See Evidence
column.
The satellite image is
better because the
shadows on it show
whether the land is
hilly; the colours
show how much the
vegetation is
growing.
Land Use
Satellite: Key tells you the
land use.
Satellite: Colour showed
vegetation type.
Aerial Photo: the pattern of
many flat, rectangular
paddocks show that the land is
used intensively in A.
NB If refer to Block A and B,
then infer Aerial Photo.
If refer to Key, then Satellite is
implied.
(c)
There is no definitive answer
but a possible answer may be:
Satellite is better because
uses key / can see shadows on
the land make it easy to see
the shape of the land / colours
show vegetation / can see
shapes / intensity of farming in
A. Satellite is better for
determining both land use and
topography.
Aerial Photo is better because
can see blocks of land outlined
by white roads / infrastructure.
The satellite image is also
better to use to distinguish
land use intensity because you
can tell by the colour whether
the vegetation is growing well.
Achievement
Merit
Correct answers.
Excellence
NCEA Level 2 Geography (90334) 2008 — page 2 of 11
Question
Two
Three
Evidence
Précis Map
See Appendix A.
Bar Graph Interpretation
Positive:
More pasture is produced on
irrigated land than dry land,
particularly for irrigated
sheep farming.
Negative:
Irrigated land has more soil
compaction than dry land
farming for both land uses
but particularly for cattle.
Achievement
Merit
Must have:
Must have:
(i) SH83 located
within outer
area.
(i) SH83 located
accurately within
inner area –
must have bend.
(ii) Bortons Pond
within exterior.
(ii) Bortons Pond
within inner area
– must have
accurate shape.
(iii) Millers Pond
located within
outer area.
(iii) Millers Pond
located within
correct inner
area.
(iv) Queens Flat
discharge outlet
within outer
area.
(iv) Queens Flat
discharge outlet
within inner area.
Provides a brief
description of ONE
impact.
eg
More pasture grown
on irrigated land.
Livestock on
irrigated land causes
the soil to compact
more.
Provides a brief
description of TWO
impacts.
See Achievement
column.
OR
Provides an in-depth
description of ONE
impact.
eg

The total pasture
yield on both
dairy and sheep
irrigated land is
more than double
that produced on
dry land farms.
The difference,
for example, for
dairy is
approximately 9
tonnes dry matter
per hectare.

More compaction
on irrigated land
as soil spaces
reduced, which
impacts on
drainage and
water holding
capacity of soils.
Excellence
Provides a
comprehensive
description of BOTH
impacts.
See Merit column.
NCEA Level 2 Geography (90334) 2008 — page 3 of 11
Question
Evidence
Four
(a)
Triangular Graphing
Plots age structures on the
triangular graph.
See Appendix B.
Accurately plots TWO
or THREE age
structures.
All FOUR without
labels.
Accurately plots FOUR
age structures.
Possible answers may
include:
Gives ONE point of
difference AND / OR
similarity.
See Evidence column.
May compare to any
one other area, eg just
Christchurch.
Gives TWO points of
difference AND / OR
similarity. Must refer to
all areas.
See Evidence column.
Briefly describes TWO
population trends.
See Evidence column.
Describes ONE
population trend in
depth, eg detailed
description with use of
dates / towns / statistics
Describes
population trends
comprehensively
with TWO in
depth.
OR
ONE in depth
See Merit column.
AND
Identifies ONE
population trend at an
Achievement level.
Eg
Most of the towns have
experienced population
decline from 1996 to
2006. These areas
include Oamaru, which
has declined from
12 015 in 1996 to
11 232 in 2006.
The population in some
towns has fluctuated.
For example, Ardgowan
went down from 462 in
1996 to 459 in 2001 but
went up to 501 in 2006.
See Merit column.
(b)
Five

All places have the
largest percentage in
the 15–65 age group.

All places have the
similar percentage in
the under 15 age
group.

Waitaki has the largest
percentage over 65
years.

Waitaki has the
smallest percentage in
the 15–65 age group.

Waitaki has an ageing /
aged population
structure compared to
other places.
Table Interpretation
Evidence may include:





Most of the towns have
experienced population
decline from 1996 to
2006.
Most towns decreased
in size.
Most towns declined in
population over the last
10 years.
Population ranking of
towns in terms of size
stayed the same.
Most towns increased
or stayed the same
over the last 5 years.

Population in some
towns fluctuated.

Some have gone up
and down – towns have
fluctuated.
Achievement
Merit
Excellence
NCEA Level 2 Geography (90334) 2008 — page 4 of 11
Question
Six
(a)
(b)
Evidence
Multi-line Graphing
See Appendix C.
Requirements:

Title must include
years and / or areas

Vertical scale must be
even.

Axes labelled correctly
must include
$ / hectares.

Key completed

Four individual lines
plotted
Impacts may include:


Based on the
Waimakariri and
Ashburton prices,
North Otago farmers
can expect both dry
land and irrigated
properties to rise in
value.
Irrigated properties will
become more
expensive than nonirrigated properties.
Achievement
THREE requirements.
Explains ONE impact
the irrigation scheme
may have on land
prices in the Waitaki
District.






All land values may
increase.
Non-irrigated land
may increase in
value.
Irrigated land may
increase in value.
Non-irrigated land
may decrease
initially as less
demand for nonirrigated and more
demand for
irrigated.
Properties already
irrigated may drop
in value as there
would be more
irrigated land on
the market.
Non-irrigated land
will be cheaper
than irrigated land.
Merit
Excellence
FOUR requirements,
including accuracy of
most of the individual
line graphs.
All FIVE
requirements,
including
accuracy of the
individual line
graphs.
Must draw line graphs.
Must draw line
graphs.
See Evidence column.
See Evidence
column.
Explains TWO impacts
the irrigation scheme
may have on land
prices in the Waitaki
District.
OR
ONE in detail.
eg Irrigated land is
much more valuable
than dry land. If a North
Otago farmer irrigated
his or her land, it would
have a higher sale
price than if it was not
irrigated.
NCEA Level 2 Geography (90334) 2008 — page 5 of 11
Question
Seven
Evidence
Statistical Interpretation
Reasons for choice may
include:
Option 1: Choose not to
change:

does not like change.

cannot be bothered
with all the work
involved in conversion.

is not a risk-taker.

no initial costs which
would put you into
debt.
Option 2: Chooses to
irrigate with intensive
sheep breeding / finishing:

can still use knowledge
and skills from dry land
sheep farming

can make more money
than dry land farming

has no knowledge of
dairy farming

does not want the high
costs of converting to
dairying and carrying
more debt.

Wouldn’t have to worry
about droughts
Option 3: Chooses to
irrigate with dairying:

Even though
conversion involves
more costs, it also
enables more profits to
be made

Not afraid of trying new
farming type. Sees it as
a challenge.

Wouldn’t have to worry
about droughts.
Achievement
Provides ONE valid
reason.
eg A dairy farm
produces more income.
Merit
EITHER
Provides TWO valid
reasons at an
Achievement level
OR
Provides ONE reason
in depth.
Data and / or detailed
explanation
eg Farmers will be able
to utilise the skills and
abilities that they have
gathered from dry land
sheep farming. They
will not have to change
what they have been
doing, just do it more
intensively.
eg Option 2 brings in a
surplus of $103 685 by
comparison to $36 545,
so the income triples.
Excellence
Provides TWO
reasons in depth.
eg See Merit
column.
NCEA Level 2 Geography (90334) 2008 — page 6 of 11
Question
Eight
Evidence
Valuing Skills
Examples could include:
Positive economic:
There will be extra jobs
created on farms in the
area and in the town of
Oamaru. Farms will earn
more income / revenue.
Positive social:
There will be more young
people in the area with the
growth of employment
opportunities. This will
cause high school rolls to
grow and broaden subject
choice for students.
Negative social:
Workers who come into the
area do not stay long and
do not contribute anything
to the local community.
Achievement
Gives THREE brief
examples of
arguments. Candidates
may not use their own
words but may take
sections from the
resource.
eg
Positive economic:

This will create
more jobs on
farms.

“Farm revenues
will rise by
$35 million to
$90 million a year.”
Excellence
EITHER
Gives THREE
examples using own
words and data or
detailed explanation.
(depth).
eg This will create
86–128 extra jobs on
farms in the area and in
the town of Oamaru.
EITHER
Gives FOUR
examples using
own words (depth
and breadth).
See Evidence column.
OR
Gives FOUR brief
examples taking
sections from the
resources (breadth).

More income for
the area.
Positive social:

More school
subjects.

Negative cultural:
The Ngai Tahu Iwi will be
offended as they are
opposed to it as they see
the scheme will take water
from the Waitaki River and
put some of it into the
Waiareka Creek. The
Waitaki is sacred to the
Maori, and they do not
believe water should be
taken from it at all.
Merit
Young people
return to the area.
Negative social:

“Farm workers
come and go and
feel nothing for the
area.”
Negative cultural:

Removing water
from the river,
which is sacred,
offends local Maori.
See Achievement
column.
OR
Gives THREE in
depth with detail
and uses own
words.
NCEA Level 2 Geography (90334) 2008 — page 7 of 11
Question
Nine
Evidence
Geographic Idea
Applies Geographic Idea.
Must cover the past and
the present / future to
demonstrate change is
occurring / will occur as a
result of the irrigation
scheme.
Evidence may include:



Droughts have
occurred in North
Otago at least once
every 10 years. The
last one was in 1998–
99, but now the effects
will be much reduced,
with irrigation supplying
water to maintain grass
and crop growth even if
it does not rain.
The Waiareka Creek
normally runs low on
water in summer but
now will have 1000
cumecs more water,
which will improve the
habitat for aquatic life.
More intensive land
use may result in runoff entering the
Waiareka Creek and
polluting the waterway
with nitrates.

More intensive land
use will mean higher
stock numbers,
especially of dairy
cows that will compact
the soil, reducing the
air spaces in the soil.
Dry land farms carry
less stock and usually
sheep, which do not do
as much damage to the
soil.

Population growth may
replace population
stagnation or decline,
which has been a
feature since 1996.
Fewer young people
will leave the area and
more will move in for
job opportunities on
farms and in Oamaru.

The age structure of
the population will
change with more
Achievement
Merit
Excellence
Applies Geographic
Idea by describing
TWO changes.
Applies Geographic
Idea by describing
ONE change in depth.
AND
ONE at the
Achievement Level.
Applies
Geographic Idea
by describing
TWO OR MORE
changes in depth.
Gives a general item of
supporting evidence.
Gives specific
supporting evidence.
Gives specific
supporting
evidence for ALL
the changes.
For example:
Since the 1990s, the
population of Oamaru
has hardly changed.
With more jobs being
created, more people
will come into the area
and the population may
grow.
For example:
See Evidence column.
For example:
See Evidence
column.
OR
Describes THREE
changes. Gives general
items of supporting
evidence for EACH.
See Achievement
column.
NCEA Level 2 Geography (90334) 2008 — page 8 of 11
people in the younger
age groups of under 15
and 15–65. This will be
because of the job
opportunities created
by irrigation.

Primary and secondary
schools in the area,
such as Waitaki Girls
High School, will grow,
and this will be good
for students because
they will have more
subject choice
available.

The farming landscape
will change from one
characterised by
sheep, trees, and little
grass to one full of
dairy cows, lots of
grass, and irrigation
equipment spraying
water onto paddocks.

New businesses such
as irrigation equipment
suppliers will open up
to service the irrigated
farms, and existing
ones such as PGG
Wrightson will expand.
Judgement Statement
Achievement
Achievement with Merit
Achievement with Excellence
Minimum of:
Minimum of:
Minimum of:
eight A’s, M’s or E’s
eleven A’s, M’s or E’s
twelve A’s, M’s or E’s
OR
including at least
four M’s and two E’s
ten A’s, M’s or E’s
including at least four M’s or E’s
NCEA Level 2 Geography (90334) 2008 — page 9 of 11
Appendix A
NCEA Level 2 Geography (90334) 2008 — page 10 of 11
Appendix B: Age Structure of Selected New Zealand Places
NCEA Level 2 Geography (90334) 2008 — page 11 of 11
Appendix C
The Value of Irrigated and Dry Land 2000–2003
In the Waimakariri and Ashburton Districts