Celebrating our Blog's 5th Birthday

Celebrating our Blog

It’s our 5^th birthday.

We (me mostly) started this blog as a way to share Rotorua’s rich history with our community in an easy-to-read online format.

After a steep learning curve, I got quite good at thinking up topics [or eras] to cover each month and proceeded to research each topic. That was the easy bit as Rotorua Library has a comprehensive collection of books, ephemera, early Rotorua maps, Don Stafford’s Research folders, the early Rotorua newspapers and the Rotorua Photo News. 

Rotorua’s history has been very well documented for us in both photographs and the many stories of those early intrepid explorers and missionaries.

To celebrate our 5^th birthday the Heritage and Research team have picked out some posts to highlight and share with you.

From me a couple of topics I enjoyed writing about the most was the early [Royal visitors] and all about Rotorua’s Beauty Pageants. I hope our readers will continue to enjoy our blog and tell all your friends about it too.  Alison

Click the links to these blog posts : 
Rotorua Street Names Disappear 

This map was published in a
brochure for tourists c1940

Rotorua Transport Companies of Yesteryear

c1910 Map of  Hot Lakes Transport Co. Trips around Rotorua.
From the Rotorua District Library Collection

 NZ Music Month : Sir Howard Morrison

From the Clive Trio to the Howard Morrison Show
in Rotorua Photo News Jul 31, 1965 p.33.

 Christmas in Rotorua 

Rotorua Library - our first Christmas Parade Float
Joanne Hatcher and Mary Ellen Wilson

Rotorua's Arty Makeovers 

Fish out of Water : Princess Fishy 2016

Please enjoy our blog posts and let us know what you liked and maybe some topics you would like us to cover in the future. 

Rotorua's Arty Makeovers.

Fish Out of Water 2017/2018 

12 New designs and some new artists have contributed this year along with your favourite artists of previous years fishy 'tales'. 

From this

Princess Fishy 2016

To this

The Red Baron 2017

And Unison Box Makeovers 2017, 'The Rotorua Experience'.

From This

Unison Box by Jill Walker & Simon Stanway

To This

Unison Box by Paul X Walsh 2017

'Creative Rotorua' is responsible for the new and vibrant makeovers in the CBD and the annual Fish Out of Water competition. There are also the Sulphur Lake Sculpture Trail and the Rotorua Public Art Trail along with other seasonal events which you can find here

The Arts Village is responsible for these amazing events, The 200 Show and Open Studio's Project. Also they have studio's rented out to local art groups, craft classes and more

Not forgetting the Rotorua Museum. There are still events and exhibitions on around the city so look out for those.

Fish out of water?

Rotorua's Fish out of water competition popular as ever!

This competition is in it's 10th Year is just as popular and well supported as the 1st one in the summer of 2006-2007.  

The map shows the locations of where each 'fish' was during the competition.

The competition has finished for the summer and the judges have made their selection.

Below is a small sample of this year's entries.

 

To see previous year's entries got to our online archive Kete Rotorua

Annual "Fish out of Water" Competition

Rotorua artists, Fishy Art

As I walk around town at the moment I see colourful,  thought provoking 'fish' in shop doorways, at the I-site and RAVE. This competition never ceases to amaze and amuse me each year, there are wonderful creations by Rotorua Artists, Children and Clubs and I look forward to seeing what they come up with.

Kiri Jarden, past Rotorua Community Arts Officer, organised the 1st "Fish out of Water" community arts project in 2007 and it was such a success the project is now run annually.

The 'blank fish' are provided  by Rotorua Lakes Council, Creative Rotorua, and are decorated by artists, clubs and children. The 'fish' are displayed around the centre of town for approximately 2 months giving locals a chance to see them all and vote for their favourite fish.

In 2007 the Rotorua District Library entered and had a lot of fun decorating "Puka the fish" designed by Sue Heke, and in 2008 Fletcher Fish designed and decorated by Ellie Marshall and Vanessa Fisher.

Puka the fish

Previous years entries can be seen on the Library's Community Online Archive Kete Rotorua


Kete Rotorua is for the whole Rotorua Community to add photographs, histories of Rotorua people and places, artists portfolios and more.  Why not register today and start adding your memories to Rotorua's rich history, including what's happening in Rotorua now in our community for future residents of our great city to enjoy.