It Happened on this Day
Through the month of February, there will be a display on the 2nd Floor of Rotorua District Library of events that happened on this day in history in Rotorua. You can also follow the events online with weekly blog posts. This is the first post in a series of four. Dates for events are drawn from the works of Don Stafford1st February 1887
Rotorua County formed by separating from Tauranga County.
Rotorua county was separated into North and South Riding and elections were held in April 1887, then again in November 1887 with the same members being re-elected.
There were issues around whether fees should be collected by the County or the Town board. All the Rotorua County Councillors resigned in October 1888 and no further elections were held. The Rotorua County Council was not re-established until 1911 with Cabinet providing Administration under the Thermal Springs Districts Act in the interim.
Want to know more?
Kete Rotorua - Rotorua County Council to 1960Rotorua District Council Official Handbook and Services Guide 1994-1995
The Founding Years in Rotorua by D.M. Stafford
2nd February 1987
First School to teach in te reo Māori opens.
Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Ruamata at Ruamata Marae, Rotokawa, was the first Kura Kaupapa in Rotorua.Cathy Dewes was heavily involved in establishing the school. Of the 11 inaugural students, 4 of them were Cathy’s children.
Want to know more?
An excellent article titled “Persevere no matter the cost” on Cathy Dewes and education based on a Māori ideology can be found in: Mana : the Maori news magazine for all New Zealanders, Aug/Sep 2003, p95-1013rd February 1931
Majestic theatre converts to talkies.
The Majestic Theatre which was in Tutanekai Street converted to “Talkies” on the 3rd of February 1931.Want to know more?
Kete Rotorua - Majestic Theatre
4th February 1929
New tobacco crops planted.
New tobacco crops were planted at Te Koutu and Kawaha.Photograph from Alexander Turnbull Library of an unidentified Māori woman holding tobacco leaves, Rotorua area, Bay of Plenty Region.
Want to know more?
The New Century in Rotorua by D.M. Stafford5th February 1966
Guide Rangi retires from guiding.
She trained initially as a teacher and then as a nurse before becoming a guide at Whakarewarewa. She saw guiding as a way to educate people about the Maori world view.
Want to know more?
Te Ara - Rangitiaria DennanGuide Rangi of Rotorua
Rangi and Rotorua: an illustrated guide to the thermal region by J.H. Richards
6th February 1914
Plunket nurse appointed
Nurse Ada Chappel was appointed as the plunket nurse in Rotorua on the 6th of February 1914.Want to know more?
Read more about the history of Plunket in New Zealand and particularly about Nurse Ada Chappel’s dilemmas with bicycles while posted in Auckland in the book, I was a Plunket baby: 100 years of the Royal New Zealand Plunket Society Inc7th February 1870
Te Kooti retreats from Rotorua
Te Kooti and his forces of over 200 arrived in
the under-defended area of Rotorua. They sent a letter ahead saying they came
in peace. Based on various factors, Gilbert Mair believed Te Kooti would
attack.
With his smaller force of Arawa men, he began a day long combat that saw the loss of lives on both sides and caused Te Kooti to retreat.
Want to know more?
The Founding Years in Rotorua by D.M. StaffordGilbert Mair: Te Kooti’s Nemesis by R.D. Crosby
The New Zealand wars: a history of the Maori campaigns and the pioneering period. Vol. 2 by James Cowan
Redemption songs : a life of Te Kooti Arikirangi Te Turuki by Judith Binney.
This series of posts is written by Sandra Quinn, Heritage Collections Librarian, Rotorua District Library.
