Rotorua winners of National Beauty Pageants : Maureen Waaka (nee Kingi)

Maureen Kingi (Waaka), 1942-2013. 

Maureen was first crowned Miss South Seas on 22 May 1962, then on 5^th June 1962 she was crowned Miss New Zealand.

From : Rotorua Museum Collection,
Photographer Jack Lang.

Excerpts from the Daily Post :

‘…Student Radiographer …in a daze for some minutes after the result was announced. Then she gulped, wiped away a tear and said “I shall represent New Zealand proudly and to the best of my ability”.  Her Father Mr Kingi of Ohinemutu was hoping Maureen would get 3^rd in the contest, because he was anxious there should be no interruption to her radiography exams’  5^th June 1962 p.1

‘Maureen’s brief return :  for nineteen year old Maureen… the all too hurried two day visit to Rotorua this week, during a ‘show-the-flag’ tour of New Zealand, meant a round of congratulations, receptions and a barrage of questions’ 16^th June 1962.

‘Miss New Zealand…Maureen Kingi was seen by 40 million American viewers, when she appeared on a C.B.S.  Coast-to-coast, television network in San Francisco. Miss Kingi was in California for the Miss International Beauty Contest’ 25^th August 1962.

‘In the weeks since winning the Miss New Zealand title, she (Maureen) can count only one quiet day. Once in America, she was so fatigued, she slept for 17 hours on end. “It’s no joy ride. It’s thrilling yes. But the pace is on…” 31^st August 1962.

Maureen Kingi went on the compete at the Miss World contest in London during November of 1962, unfortunately she was “eliminated in the first round”. 9th November 1962.

‘While in London, Maureen demonstrated the triple-long poi in an appearance at the Pigalle with the Maori Jazz group the Hi Fives’ 22^nd Nov 1962.

In the Daily Post published on 10^th December 1962, Maureen was photographed with her fiancé John Waaka at their engagement party in Ohinemutu.

Rotorua Lakes Council Photograph 

Just a few of Maureen’s contributions to the Rotorua community : Councillor, Te Arawa Standing Committee 1995-2013, Member of the Whakarewarewa Village Charitable Trust, Board member on the Lakes District Health Board, Miss Rotorua Beauty Pageant Co-ordinator (1993- ) and winner  of Miss New Zealand in 1962. Recipient of an MNZM award in 2001, for service to Tourism and Community.  Maureen passed away while still in office as a Councillor, on the 1^st July 2013.

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.

Discover Your Sports Heroes

Rotorua's Famous Sports People

Rotorua people are really into sports as is shown in the number of sporting clubs we have here :
Swimming, Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Bowls (Indoor & Outdoor), Cricket, Equestrian, Fishing, Gymnastics, Hockey, Jogging & Walking, Marching, Martial Arts, Netball, Petanque, Rugby, Rugby League and Touch Rugby, Squash, Tennis, Water Skiing... to name just a few!

So it's only natural that we have some top sports athletes such as Dame Susan Devoy, Dame Naomi James, Valerie Adams, Steven Adams, Jim Love, Danny Lee, Buck Shelford, Simon Wi Rutene...
most, if not all, of these people no longer live in Rotorua but we still claim them as ours!

Wayne (Buck) Shelford was "Born and bred in Rotorua with a typical Kiwi upbringing, along with his brothers Brett, Dean and Darrall, the latter two whom went on to play for Combined Services including Bay of Plenty, respectively. Shelford's father Nathan, had played league and rugby as a young man, and was a champion woodchopper, his mother Mavis was a former South Otago representative netballer.  

Shelford started his rugby days as a first-five in Western Heights Primary School team where he made the Bay of Plenty representative side."   Excerpt from "Buck Shelford: the man, the story, the truth" by John Matheson  To read more about this well known rugby star, this book is available from the Maori Collection on the 2nd floor of Rotorua District Library.

Susan Devoy (Dame) born in Rotorua to Tui and John Devoy, a sister for Brendan, Michael, Paul, Mark, Julian and Gerard... the first girl in a family of six young boys!

"Squash was a big part of the Devoy household well before I came on the scene. They all played - Mum, Dad, (and all 6 boys)... It was Brendan who started things off by getting involved in squash almost as soon as former national coach Colin Brownlee opened his squash courts in Rotorua in the 1950s.... 'I suppose I first picked up a squash racket as a way to kill time'"  Excerpt from "Susan Devoy: out on top" by Robyn Scott-Vincent.

Susan went on to become Number one in the World rankings continuously from 1983 to 1992 when she retired, New Zealand Sportswoman of the Year 1985, 1987, 1988.  To read more of Susan's story her book is available to borrow from the New Zealand History/Travel section on the 2nd Floor.