May Book Reviews

Today in New Zealand History / by Neil Atkinson, David Green, Gareth Phipps & Steve Walters

How often we've heard the term "Today in History" followed by an account of a famous event.

This book provides a snapshot of our nation's past for 365 days of the year. And yes, it may be a famous event we all know about but there are also accounts of lesser known happenings. Each entry contains the day and month but the years are not in chronological order. So 1840 and 1860 of March face one another. Bold headlines, a brief account of the event and a painting, photograph or maybe a retro advertisement complete the page. Sprinkled throughout the book are snapshots of "Born on this day" New Zealanders.

Produced by the Ministry for Culture and Heritage and drawn from Te Ara Encyclopaedia, this is a fascinating book to dip into. According to the introduction the stories presented here are intended to inform, entertain and encourage curiosity and further inquiry, not to provide a comprehensive history of New Zealand.

So 2 snippets for this week which fall into the famous category:

• 29th May 1953 Hillary and Tenzing reach the summit of Everest
• 30th May 1959 the Auckland Harbour Bridge opens

Then check out 16th March 1940 - Jockey Y-Fronts hits New Zealand shops!

This book can be found on 1st Floor at 993 ATK
in the NZ History & Travel Collection 

This book review is by Trish.

Lasting impressions: the story of New Zealand’s newspapers, 1840-1920 / by Ian F. Grant.

A fascinating look at how newspapers came to be in New Zealand and of those who owned and published the earliest newspapers and news sheets. 

It seems as if those early pioneers who brought printing presses to New Zealand were first and foremost businessmen who had strong opinions on just about everything including politics.  The publication of their newspapers relied on financial backing of investors e.g. New Zealand Company, and advertising. This meant that the content of these was primarily advertising and the front pages were always all adverts. 

The first recorded newspaper was “first printed in England, by Samuel Revans and called “The New Zealand Gazette” once he arrived in New Zealand and settled in Upper Hutt he reprinted that same issue and it went on sale 18^th April 1840. He sold 400 copies, and decided to do another print run the following Monday of another 150 copies.”

Following on from this first newspaper, another 15 independent newspapers in the most populated areas of NZ at that time. Not all survived the uncertain economy and readership, as more newspapermen arrived and printing presses were brought in by various settlers meant that competition for customers was strong.

The first Rotorua newspaper was the Hot Lakes Chronicle which was first published in 1895; it was owned by Frances F. Watt until his death at the age of 51 in 1900. His widow carried on publishing it for a while after this until David Gardner bought it in 1902.  A rival publication was printed in Whangarei by Frank Hyde, it was called ‘Wonderland Gazette and Rotorua Times’ in 1907, later the title was just ‘Rotorua Times’ and this was purchased by Mr Gardner in 1910, after his death in 1918 his son R.A. Gardner (poss. Robin Adair) took over the reins and began publishing the Rotorua Chronicle. 

This book is richly illustrated with photographs and images of early newspapers and the excerpt from these early newsmen provides a snapshot of life for New Zealand’s settlers.

This book can be found at 079 GRA in the
New Zealand  History and Travel Collection

For more information on the Rotorua newspapers see our website

To read Rotorua newspapers you can visit the 2^nd floor Heritage and Research area, and a few from 1895-1905 are digitised and available on line via Papers Past.

This review is by Alison.

 Galleries of Maoriland: Artists, Collectors and the Maori World, 1880-1910 / by Roger Blackley

This book explores the relationship between Maori taonga and the way that they are curated in museums and galleries. The author writes about the differing perspective of Maori and Pakeha when viewing the taonga in curated exhibitions. There is an increasing awareness where, when Maori artists exhibit their work, tikanga Maori is incorporated in opening and closing ceremonies.

Part of the book summary on the inside front cover explains:

"Galleries of Maoriland looks at Maori prehistory in Pakeha art, the enthusiasm of Pakeha and Maori for portraiture  and recreations of ancient life; the trade in Maori curios; and the international exhibition of this colonial culture. The culture of Maoriland was a Pakeha creation. This book shows that Maori too had a stake in this process of romanticism".

My favourite part of the book are the portraits by Gottfried Lindauer.

You can find this book in the Maori Collection
at 704.03994 BLA on the first floor of the library, and on the 2nd floor in the reference Maori Collection

This review was written by Ani Sharland

Why Dance? / by Sir Jon Trimmer & Roger Booth

I had the pleasure of seeing renowned ballet dancer Sir Jon Trimmer perform as Captain Cook in the Royal New Zealand Ballet production of Peter Pan. A role that he includes in his top 12 character roles listed in his autobiography Why Dance?

The first part of the book is a journey through his ballet career, including his teen years dancing with Poul Gnatt and Russell Keer; his training at the London Royal Ballet School; and his international career with Sadler's Wells, Australian Ballet, and Royal Danish Ballet.

In the second part of Why Dance? Trimmer offers advice and tips for new and older dancers. He covers a variety of topics including career opportunities; visualisation, focus and breathing techniques; handling feedback; keeping fit and uninjured; applying make-up; character portrayal; art of mime in ballet; and working with children and young people.

The book is co-written by former Kapiti Coast Deputy Mayor Roger Booth, who worked with Trimmer at the New Zealand Qualifications Authority developing unit standards and qualifications for the Visual and Performing Arts National Standards Body. Booth has also written a book on Bruno Lawrence, and has co-authored an autobiography with Ray Woolf.

This book can be found on the 1st Floor at 792.8 TRI NZ in the New Zealand History/ Travel section, and on the 2nd Floor in the NZ Heritage reference collection

This book review was written by Graeme.

Sister Cities: Suzhou City, Wuzhong District, China

This is the final in this month's series on Rotorua's sister cities.  Suzhou City, Wuzhong District, China is a major city located in the south-eastern Province of Jiangsu, by the lower Yangtze River. The city’s emphasis is on Trade and commerce. It is a prefecture-level city with a population of over 5 million and a popular tourist attraction. The city is over 2,000 years old and the centre of Wu culture. It is known for its traditional craft such as painting, calligraphy, carving and embroidery.

Silk Embroidery Art Piece presented to Rotorua City

from the Wuzhong District, Suzhou City.
Photo by Ani Sharland 

Talks started in 1990’s and the relationship between Rotorua City and Suzhou City, Wuzhong District, China was established on 18 February 2000. Since then, delegations of officials from both cities have visited to strengthen that relationship. With this relationship comes a better understanding of the culture of both cities.

Rotorua Daily Post, 27 May 2010.

Silk Scroll presented to  Rotorua City

from the Wuzhong District, Suzhou City, May 2010

Photo by Ani Sharland

This painting was presented to Rotorua City by

Mr Zhang Atu - Vice President of Wuzhong District

of Suzhou City on 15 November 2002

Photo by Ben Manley

This post was written by Ani Sharland with thanks to Rotorua Lakes Council for loaning two of the pieces photographed here.



Sister Cities: Lake Macquarie, Australia

This post continues this month's series on Rotorua's Sister Cities. The third sister city to Rotorua was the City of Lake Macquarie in Australia. The city is located approximately 150 km north of Sydney. When the agreement was signed in 1997 approximately 180,000 people lived in the Lake Macquarie area of New South Wales, Australia.

The idea of a sister city relationship was first approached in 1994 when then Rotorua District Council Director of Community Services Greg Fraser meet Lake Macquarie's Bill Hanley at the New Zealand Sister Cities Convention in Timaru.

A number of discussions took place during the mid 1990s and in September 1997 Mayor John Kilpatrick led a delegation of more than 30 people to Rotorua where a formal agreement was signed.

Rotorua mayor Grahame Hall and Lake Macquarie mayor John Kilpatrick sign formal sister city agreement. Source: Daily Post, Wednesday 24 September 1997, p. 2

The official signing ceremony also included a powhiri and dinner. Māori cultural group Ngati Rangiwewehi performed and there was a special guest appearance by Rotorua's own Tina Turner, aka Bea Yates.

Mr Kilpatrick was presented with a weaving created at the New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute. It was the last design by Emily Schuster, who had recently passed away.

Rotorua deputy mayor Johnny Lepper and John Kilpatrick hongi during the official ceremony. Source: Weekender, Friday 26 September 1997, p. 14

In November Grahame Hall and mayoress Sandy Hall led a 34-strong delegation to Lake Macquarie for a week-long visit where a reciprocal signing took place. The delegation included Deputy Mayor Johnny Lepper, Councillors Mita Mohi, Trevor Maxwell, Ben Benfield, Knocker Dean and Annie Bowie, as well as a group of Rotorua business and educational community representatives.

The two councils gifted each other paintings of local scenes. Rotorua was given a painting of Lake Macquarie and Rotorua gave Lake Macquarie a painting of the Rotorua Musuem of Art and History building.

Grahame Hall with a painting gifted to Rotorua from Lake Macquarie. Source: Daily Post, Tuesday 18 November 1997, p. 2

In February 1999 Grahame and Sandy Hall attended the official opening of Lake Macquarie's $6.5 million dollar athletic track and gymnasium. This was the first official function Hall attended since the sister city agreement was signed.

Over the years there have been numerous official and unofficial (dignitaries visiting while on holiday) visits between the two cities, including several sporting exchanges with runners in relay, marathon and half marathon events, particularly at high school level.

Glass plate presented to Rotorua District Council on the signing of the sister city agreement on 23 September 1997. 

This blog post was written by Graeme, with thanks to the Daily Post and the Rotorua Lakes Council.

Sister cities : Beppu, Kyushu, Japan 1987

Beppu our second Sister City 

 The Beppu Mayor first contacted Mr Keaney regarding a Sister City relationship in early 1984. The idea was then discussed at a full council meeting on the 13^th December. Mr Keaney said Council should consider ‘the cost of hosting visitors before cementing such a bond’

"Mr Keaney and Mr Harry Childs have been invited to visit Japan and Beppu from 3^th Feb – 9^th 1985 for preliminary discussions. Air NZ had also offered a discounted airfare as part of its efforts to encourage tourism to NZ.  The council supported this visit to Japan. DP 14 Dec 1984, pg.1

“Sister City links find supporters”.  Following a meeting with locals and local groups, Mayor Keaney is optimistic that the community is supportive of this new relationship with Beppu for the city". Daily Post 9 Oct 1985

 “Sister City ties: Wheelchair marathon first step to Beppu” Mr J.E. Marsh has taken up the challenge, of being chairman, of heading a local liaison committee looking into the possibilities of how to encourage this new sister city relationship.  This will begin this year with two Rotorua sportsmen visiting the city to take part in a wheelchair marathon.  Other ideas put forward are an exchange of arts and crafts and fostering ‘family exchanges.’"  Daily Post 10 Oct 1985.

Beppu Map Click this link to Google Earth. 

 ‘Gifts from sister city’ in Daily Post, 15th Jul 1987, pg.3.  “The Rotorua entourage, which included district council officials and a Maori cultural group teamed up with a 500-strong Auckland contingent for the trip. The Aucklanders visited their sister city and the Rotorua group travelled on to Beppu”   A photograph of Mayor John Keaney and District Manager Ted Hansen shows them holding the gifts and the official sister-city document. Signed on 10 July 1987.

These three items were gifted to Rotorua District Council from their counterparts of Beppu, Japan

Beppu travel guide Click this link to see what there is for tourists.

An office exchange programme started in 1991 and in 1993 the second exchange officer arrived in NZ. Hideki Kamahori a graduate of Rikkyo University and worked at City Hall, Beppu since 1980. While here he spent his first few months learning English, then he came to Rotorua where he worked with council staff learning about local authority administration in NZ.  From District News, 7^th July 1993, pg.2 

In the Daily Post, 20 March 1993, pg.22. Nell Trail writes:

"At an exhibition in the gallery at Council - describes some of the items in the exhibition. A Japanese wedding gown of rich red and gold brocade with red lining; a Kokeshi doll; a sculptured glass clock; a gold bamboo fan; a Hakato traditional clay doll ; a bamboo doll and an ancient farmer wearing rope sandals and holding a mouse.

Beppu description of the surrounding landscape and city, with its hot springs, and the medicinal effects of the eight main spring areas. Nell describes the relaxing sand baths, waterfall baths and steam baths. All of which do not smell strongly of sulphur as their chemical makeup is different from our Rotorua ones.

As well as the baths, she writes there are many outdoor pools spouting geysers and sizzling heat. Beppu also is close to the inactive volcano ‘Bungo Fuji’ which last erupted 1,100 years ago, it has five craters and some slight activity can be detected on the far side of the crater. 

Beppu and Rotorua will be linked as sister cities, and shall positively promote friendly exchanges, beneficial in providing understanding, through scenic development, tourism. Cultural, education, science and technology, thereby making a positive contribution to world peace and prosperity”

Ten years on… Daily Post 26 August 1997, pg.1  

Two local marathon runners, Hilary Grinter and Peter Roy, recently competed in the annual Beppu Yukemuri Kenko marathon, both returning excellent performances in the 20km event. 16 Dec 1997, pg.2.

…”both cities have had changes in the mayoralty since the agreement was signed in 1987, changes which often signal reversals in the previous administration’s arrangements. But Graeme Hall and Beppu mayor Nobuyuki Inoue have weathered the changes and appear to have become firm friends in the process”  “During the 10^th Anniversary the ceremonies were covered by at least two TV stations and two radio stations”  Daily Post 20 Sept 1997 pg. 17

Yoroi Kabuto 

This Yoroi Kabuto suit was on display first in the Council building and then in the Library until 2016.

Collection gifted to Rotorua District Library from Rotorua's sister city Library Beppu,

Japan on 7 October 2010, they also received a collection from us about

Rotorua and New Zealand

"Bev, with Chiemi’s help (in translating all correspondence with the Beppu Library), and that of Sue White, Council’s Sister City Liaison, finally brought about an exchange of books with our sister city, Beppu, Japan. Chiemi was co-opted into cataloguing the books that arrived. Friends of the Library funded a special shelving unit and the collection was finally launched in October to co-inside with a visit of a delegation from Beppu."

30 Years on … 16 June 2017

“A Beppu delegation visited to celebrate the anniversary and  to strengthen relationships with the our Rotorua community,  but also to see how we in Rotorua were hosting the Rugby World Cup as Japan will be hosting the cup in 2019”

"Speaking through an interpreter, Mr Inomata, says the sister city relationship with Rotorua is important to Beppu and is a natural fit, given the geothermal resources which feature in both cities. 

Te Puia hosted a dinner in partnership with Auckland's Japanese Consulate Office which Tim Cossar says is part of maintaining long-established relationships and building on those to facilitate a successful tour of the Tuku Iho exhibition which will be touring Japan in 2019.  The visitors also went to Hell's Gate and the Redwoods Tree Walk before leaving Rotorua. 

This blog post was written by Alison, with thanks to the Daily Post and Rotorua Lakes Council documents. Photographs taken by Library staff.

Sister Cities: Klamath Falls, Oregon, U.S.A.

Rotorua's Sister Cities

This month we are going to explore the relationship that Rotorua has with other cities around the world, known as our Sister Cities. The modern concept of Sister Cities or Twin Towns came about in 1947, after World War 2. According to the NZ Sister Cities website: The establishment of sister city friendships stimulates interaction between people of different cultures and countries on a people-to-people basis, ...Connecting people globally for peace and prosperity.

Rotorua's sister cities are:

1. Klamath Falls, USA,
2. Beppu, Japan,
3. Lake Macquarie, NSW, Australia
4. Wuzhong District of Suzhou City, China

Klamath Falls, Oregon, U.S.A.

Klamath Falls Herald and News
11 April 1962, p 1

In 1962 Rotorua Council established a sister city relationship with the city of Klamath Falls, in Oregon, USA. The official agreement was signed by Mayor Robert Veatch of Klamath Falls on 24 April, 1962

Daily Post 21 March 1962

Early Klamath Falls

An early picture of Klamath Falls. Note the similar positioning to early pictures of Rotorua and Ohinemutu.

Similar in size to Rotorua, the city of Klamath Falls is located in Oregon, bordering northern California. It, like Rotorua, sits on the shores of a lake, in a basin, surrounded by hills and mountains. Klamath Falls enjoys around 300 days of sunshine each year. It's also an area steeped in history, with natural and cultural wonders all within easy distance. Like Rotorua, there's a diversity of activities available, such as white water rafting, fishing, cycling and hiking. We have Wingspan, they have pelicans and bald eagles. Originally built on the timber industry, Klamath Falls now has a growing tourist industry. The Klamath Falls surrounding area also supports agriculture.

Map of Klamath Falls

In 1963 Rotorua gained city status. The Mayor of Klamath Falls issued a proclamation the 20-26 January 1963 would be Sister City Week.

In February 1963 Walt and Mary McIntyre visited Rotorua from Klamath Falls. Among the activities arranged for them was attendance at the Settlers' Day luncheon. This story was printed in the Daily Post, 2 February 1963.

August 1964, Mayor Linton reported back to Council on his visit to Klamath Falls. He had already since his return home, received from Klamath Falls, landscape plans for a Rotorua Garden to be built in their Veteran's Park. The residents of Klamath Falls would like a small Maori meeting house as a central motif in the garden.

In 1967 Mr Veatch, Mayor of Klamath Falls and his wife Marty, led a 23 strong party to Rotorua. They were welcomed with a cavalcade down Tutanakai Street into Fenton Street with an official welcome outside the city hall on a flower-covered dais. The Rotorua Highland Pipe Band and marching girls preceded the open-top car and bus and four planes flew in formation overhead.The Rotoua Municipal Band played, Rotorua Boys High School cadets paraded and were inspected by the Mayors. To see more photos of this come up to our display on the 2nd Floor at Te Aka Mauri.

               Flyover and an open top car during the Klamath Falls welcome, 1967. Photograph         by Jack Lang (1915-1986). Rotorua Museum Te Whare Taonga o Te Arawa (2011.100.294)

General view of the crowd at the Klamath Falls welcome, 1967.
Photograph by Jack Lang (1915-1916). Rotorua Museum Te Whare Taonga o Te Arawa
 (2011.100.322)

In February 1971 36 visitors arrived from Klamath Falls.Their itinerary was printed in the paper along with  brief biological sketches of 3 Klamath Falls residents.

Daily Post 27 February 1971, pp

Two-yearly visits back and forth were announced to council by Deputy Mayor P. Tapsell, after a recent trip where the Rotorua visitors were "lavishly entertained."However, it would be 1978 before another delegation from Rotorua visited Klamath Falls and 1979 before Klamath Falls delegates visited Rotorua. In 1981 and 1986 visits occured again. In May 1987 the Klamath Falls Rose Gardens were established in the Government Gardens. October 1990 a Rotorua a party of 11 visited Klamath Falls.

Mayor Keaney and Mrs Keaney at the dedication of
 Klamath Falls Rose Garden, Rotorua, December 1987

In February 1993 an official delegation from Klamath Falls was led by Jim Allen, former editor and publisher of the Klamath Falls Herald and News, and his wife Evelyn. A Rotorua District Council flag was presented to the group and was flown at the Rotorua Garden in Klamath Falls.

Daily Post 13 February 1993, p 2

In September 1993 the Daily Post reported that Klamath Falls had been hit by an earthquake.Students from 2 Rotorua schools sent letters of support. In November, Judd and Jean Davy returned from an extended stay in Klamath Falls, having visited 13 times. They reported that folks in Klamath Falls were keen to have contact with residents in Rotorua. Then in December, there was further damage to Klamath Falls with another smaller quake.

Add Daily Post 19 November 1993, p 9

In June 1994 there was a delegation to Klamath Falls led by Mayor Grahame Hall.

Klamath Falls badge for Rotorua visitors 1994

In March 2001 Klamath Fall residents visited Rotorua. In September 2002 a Rotorua delegation led by Mayor Graham Hall and his wife Sandy departed via San Francisco to Klamath Falls, then on to Vancouver, Hawaii and home. The group included the Marvelly family. While in Klamath Falls, they visited the Air Force Base and were presented with a picture by Thomas Kincaid, a leading artist.

Klamath Falls Herald and News
22 September 2002

Klamath Falls Herald and News
22 September 2002, contd.

March 2003, a visit to Rotorua from Klamath Falls Mayor Kellstrom and group. There itinerary included a visit to the Library and Rotorua Girls High School. In November 2004 a group of 22 student and 5 teachers and parents were hosted by high schools in  Klamath Falls as part of a sporting tour in the States.

2011 was the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Sister City agreement. Over the years various people have visited on their own back and forth and they pass through the two cities. This year, on 26 March, Jessie Widener and Robyn Smith from Klamath Falls visited Mayor Stevie Chadwick.

Robyn Smith, Jessie Widener and Mayor Stevie Chadwick
from the Mayor's Facebook page.

For the month of May, there will be a display on the 2nd floor of the Library which will include items gifted to Rotorua from our Sister Cities.

This blog written by Trish with thanks to Daily Post, Rotorua Lakes Council, Rotorua Museum and the Mayor's Facebook page.