Rotorua Gardens

What is it about a garden that draws the eye? Personally, I prefer gardens that looks like they've been there for years. There's lichen on the concrete, herbs spilling over the back porch and secret nooks and crannies that are a pleasure to stumble upon. Then you have the garden that has been planned with an eye for detail, to showcase it's natural and historical features.

Government Gardens 

A garden that has been planned over time is one way of describing the Government Gardens in Rotorua. Once covered in native plants like manuka, kanuka and mingimingi, it now boasts a combination of native and exotic plants, buildings, man-made ponds, geothermal areas, a gardeners cottage, monuments and a sculpture trail. This huge garden covers approximately 48 hectares of land, has a strong link to local Maori and is a historical landmark. Originally known as Paepaehakumana, it was the site of several significant battles. Now visitors can admire the rose gardens and sit in the shelter of the pavilion or watch a game of bowls.

Government Gardens 2017.
Kete Rotorua. Photograph by
Alison Leigh

Kuirau Park 

Kuirau Park is another stunning area that features a large beautiful geothermal pool. It covers 50 acreas and was gifted by Ngati Whakaue. In 1930 it became a permanent recreational reserve and was developed from a swampy scrub covered area to what it is now. Today the park is made up of an Aquatic Center, sports fields, parkland and geothermal areas. 

Toot & Whistle Train at Kuirau Park,
Rotorua. Kete Rotorua.

Inner City Beauty

Throughout Rotorua's Central Business District there are stunning displays of colour and art that draw the eye. The city gardens are maintained by a dedicated team from Rotorua Lakes Council and are scheduled for regular change. These inner city gardens also feature in some events such as the Tulip festival which is run annually and organised by 'The Inner City of Rotorua' group. During the festival, the group showcases gardens and celebrates spring by showing over 40,000 tulips.

Tulip Festival 2014, Arawa Street.
Kete Rotorua. Photograph by Alison
Leigh.

Tulip Festival 2014, Lakefront Rotorua.
Kete Rotorua. Photograph by Alison Leigh

Garden Features

The orchid gardens (now part of the Tamaki Village Gardens) once boasted a spectacular 'Water Organ' which was installed in 1988. The parts for the organ or fountain were made in West Germany, and fully assembled stood at 12 metres by 2 metres. The organ played every hour for 20 minutes at a time. 

Water Organ at The Orchid Gardens.
Rotorua Daily Post 1988, Rotorua Library Newspaper Collection.

In 1995, the Annand family found a Kaka in their garden. It was only the second to have been seen in the area in 30 years. 

Do you have photos and memories of a garden? How about sharing them on Kete Rotorua. Please contact Alison Leigh at Rotorua Library on 351-7025. 

This post has been compiled with information sourced from the Rotorua Library's newspaper collection and Kete Rotorua, and written by Ani.

Rotorua at Christmas Time, 30 Years Ago

Christmas 1988

As Christmas nears once more I thought it would be fun to look back 😊 

Daily Post, 23rd December 1988.

Can you remember when :

Your holiday movies were at the Odeon Theatre and the Majestic Theatre.

Your Christmas dinner of Roast Lamb leg, didn't actually cost you and arm and leg.

You could take your Christmas visitors to see the new Water Organ in the Orchid Gardens.

Daily Post - December 20th, 1988 pg.1

Or in the wet weather you could rent a video or two from DIC.

Your holiday snaps could be developed in 1 Hour!.

A photo of your little one on Santa's knee was worthy of a space on the front page of the Daily Post.

Daily Post December 24th, 1988 pg.1

Geyser Court had many interesting shops and a cafe.

You could buy a house and be a landlord for under $100,000. 

At the Stock Cars the entry fee was $8 per adult and children for free if with an adult. BUT Unescorted Children had to pay $3 entry fee.  -- Huh, Unescorted Children, really!  

Your Holiday weather forecast was for a big storm and gale force winds. Known as Cyclone Eseta, We copped the tail end of the cyclone but it still caused 60 mm of rain to fall here in the 24 hours to 9.am on the 29th of December. Campers flocked to the shops because there was nothing else to do!

What else happened in 1988? 

• Sophia Street residents were evacuated from their homes as steam vents appeared in their lawns.
• Father Takuira Mariu, of Rotorua, was appointed as the country's first Maori Catholic bishop.
• Alpine horns were heard playing in Tutanekai Mall
• Susan Devoy won her fifth successive British Open title at Wembly
• Rotorua Round Table donated a Cot Death Monitor to the Rotorua Hospital
• The National Speedboat Championships at the Blue Lake 
• New Zealand's longest serving police woman, Senior Constable June Berry of Rotorua retired.
• An ancient .22 calibre pistol was stolen from the Rotorua Museum.
• The  NZ Maori Arts & Crafts Institute (Te Puia) staff went on strike over work-related conditions.
• Rotorua Maori Affairs staff were 'stunned' by the proposed abolition of their department.

You can reminisce along with us here at the Library any day! The Heritage & Research Area on the 2nd Floor has all the issues of the Daily Post on microfiche and film continuously from 1931-2018.  

See our list of available titles and dates for the Rotorua Newspapers here

Front cover of the Christmas Menu for the Denbies Guest House.
Courtesy of Mrs B. Reid

This post written by Alison