Rotorua could hold the key to understanding life on Mars, according to Nasa.
Nasa (the United States' National Aeronautics and Space Administration) and the national scientific community have teamed up in Rotorua for the first Spaceward Bound, a collaborative education and research programme.
They have been studying the area's more extreme environments to create a framework in which to understand potential life on Mars.
They met yesterday for talks from Nasa Ames Research Center principal scientist Dr Chris McKay, and AUT University's Institute for Applied Ecology director Professor Steve Pointing at Te Takinga Marae in Mourea, where they have been staying for the past week.
A geology stand and a star dome were set up for the public, who were welcome to come and meet the Nasa team and get up close with the rover and drones.