Rotorua - History

Rotorua | Regional Information | Activity Highlights | Scenic Highlights | History

Rotorua has a long and interesting history with many famous Maori legends and stories surrounding the region.

Featured Tourism Operators in Rotorua

Rotorua History Overview

Rotorua has been welcoming visitors for more than 200 years and is one of the original tourist destinations in New Zealand. A "special town district" was created in the 1880's, in order to promote Rotorua's potential as a spa.

The many geothermal hotspots, spouting geysers, boiling mud pools, warm geothermal springs and silica terraces are some of New Zealand's largest tourist attractions.

Maori History

Image Source: Tourism New Zealand (newzealand.com). Ceremonial Waka, Rotorua, New Zealand

Ceremonial Waka
Photographer: Fay Looney
(www.faylooney.com)

Rotorua, a Maori word meaning literally "second lake", was originally settled by the Maori of the Te Arawa iwi.

Many famous Maori legends and stories are based in this area including Hinemoa and Tutanekai—perhaps New Zealand's most famous love story, the beautiful Pink and White Terraces that were destroyed in the Mt Tarawera eruption, as well as many interesting Rotorua personalities.

Rotorua is the heartland of New Zealand Maori culture, and visitors have the opportunity to experience the warm spirit of Te Maori.

The founder of Rotorua was a Maori explorer named Ihenga in the 14^th century. The first Maori inhabitants arrived shortly after his discovery, transported by canoe from Hawaiki in Eastern Polynesia.

Image Source: Tourism New Zealand (newzealand.com). Mount Tarawera, Rotorua, New Zealand

Mount Tarawera, Rotorua
Photographer: Hiroshi Nameda
(hnamechan@hotmail.com)

Image Source: Tourism New Zealand (newzealand.com). Lake Rotomahana, Rotorua, New Zealand

Lake Rotomahana, Rotorua
Photographer: Waimangu Volcanic
Valley (www.waimangu.com)

Mount Tarawera 1886 Eruption

On the morning of June 10^th, 1886 a series of small earthquakes were felt in the Rotorua area. At 1:30 am a larger earthquake was felt and followed by the sound of an explosion. By 2:30 am Mount Tarawera's three peaks had erupted blasting three distinct columns of smoke and ash thousands of metres into the sky. At 3:30 am the bed of Lake Rotomahana blew out.

The eruption of Mt Tarawera was heard as far way as Blenheim, in the South Island of New Zealand, and the effects of the ash in the air were observed as far south as Christchurch, located over 800 kilometres south of Rotorua.

The sound of the eruption and the flashing sky, heard as far away as Auckland, was thought by some to be an attack by Russian warships.

The eruption is believed to have killed over 120 people, although it is possible that more people died. The eruption also destroyed the Pink and White Terraces and buried the Maori village of Te Wairoa.

Many of the lakes surrounding Mt Tarawera had their shapes and areas dramatically altered because of the explosion.