The Red Brick Building

This post is a historical snapshot of a brick building on the corner of Tutanekai and Haupapa streets, Rotorua, New Zealand. The building presently houses the Pig & Whistle restaurant and bar, and wasn’t always a cosy place where you can get a delicious bite to eat. In fact, its origins had nothing to do with the hospitality industry. The Pig ‘n’ Whistle used to be a police station.

Photographer: Faeryl Rotherham, 2012. “The Pig n Whistle Restaurant and Bar” corner of Haupapa and Tutanekai streets.

Rotorua as a police station was first recorded in 1886 with two constables. By 1921 Rotorua became a part of the Hamilton Police District with 3 constables and Senior Sergeant William John Quinn was given command of the station. In 1966 the Bay of Plenty area separated from the Hamilton Police District and became its own police district, with the district headquarters located in Rotorua. 

Timeline
Rotorua Morning Post	Mon 19 February 1940	Foundation stone laid
Rotorua Morning Post	Tues 27 August 1940	Station officially opened
Rotorua Post	Mon 4 April 1955	New police station denied. New cell block, garages and housing for single staff at rear of station approved
Daily Post	Fri 1 April 1966	Rotorua police are set to become the centre for the Bay of Plenty police district. There are 17 stations in the area and Rotorua is to be the new headquarters
Daily Post	Sat 11 October 1969	Old Tutanekai Street police station has become the new headquarters for the probation service and audit department
Rotorua Review	Fri 17 January 1986	The archives in Wellington also report that Rotorua as a police station was first recorded in the Journals of the House of Representatives in 1886

Former police reporter Keith Johnstone shared many memories of what went on in, the Red Brick police station. It was a two-storey building with a tiled floor in the tea room (a converted toilet). It was a place where staff did ‘long, tiring searches for people lost in the Ureweras, long days in court and have a quiet cuppa in the team room’. Johnston recalls a time when he went to Hinehopu in the work vehicle, a Ford Anglia, narrowly missing a black heifer in the dark and when he arrived, ‘…nothing had happened…’ He also remembers a particularly elusive fugitive named George Wilder who was difficult to capture. There were many long cold nights out with police staff on Wilder-type patrols and stakeouts.

Rotorua Daily Post, Thursday 10 March, 1994.

In the newspaper article above, Jack Lander mentions that the only transport available to the police were pushbikes. However in other parts of the country a 1955 Ford Consul, capable of up to 60mph was being used.

Rotorua Daily Post,  Thursday  3 March 1994

A 1929 annual report of the Department of Tourist and Health Resorts recorded two thefts in Rotorua. The first incident was the theft of 40 towels from the bathhouse laundry. The second theft recorded that 41 fowls were taken from the departmental poultry-yard. In both cases the culprits weren’t caught.  The station and gaol adjoined the courthouse. There were five rooms in the residence area and two cells behind.

Parliamentary Papers, Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1929 Session - Papers Past

This post was written by Ani Sharland. My thanks to the Rotorua Daily Post, Papers Past and Faeryl Rotherham. 

Rotorua Police Station - 50 years in Fenton Street

The news for Tuesday 22nd July 1969 was dominated by the Moon Landing, but also in the news that day was the new Rotorua police station, which opened on Fenton Street for business at 8am. At that time the telephones and radios were changed over, and the doors of the old Tutanekai Street station (now the Pig n Whistle) were closed by Inspector E. C. Welsh.

Inspector E. C. Welsh closes the doors of the old Tutanekai Street station. Credit: The Daily Post, Tuesday 22 July 1969, 3

The new police station

The watch-house was located on the ground floor directly opposite the main entrance. The two-storey, 22-cell block building had facilities for both male and female prisoners, with proper meal, recreation and toilet facilities, and thermal heating.

Also on the ground floor were the uniform senior-sergeants, sergeants, and constables offices, and muster rooms, with a self-contained kitchen for night shift staff. The arm office was also on the ground floor to the left of the watch-house.

The Criminal Investigation Branch was based on the first floor, along with Inspector Welsh, the officer in charge of the station, and Superintendent B. R. Alty, the officer in charge of the Rotorua police district.

The top floor had a photography darkroom, a large recreation room, and the records and administration offices.

The site for the new Rotorua police station in Fenton Street in August 1967 (left), and construction work under way in November 1967 (right). Source: Policing two peoples: a history of police in the Bay of Plenty (Jinty Rorke, 1993)

Police Station, Fenton Street. Credit: The Daily Post, Tuesday 29 July 1969, p. 11.

Official opening

The new station, which was Rotorua's fourth station since 1886 and cost $207,000 was officially opened a week later on Tuesday 29th July by Minister of Police Hon. Percy B. Allen. Other dignitaries present included Mayor Murray Linton, Rotorua MP Harry Lapwood, F.O. Scott (Assistant Commissioner of Police, Auckland), S. C. Browne (retired Superintendent of Police, who had served in Rotorua), P. A. Byrne (Chief Superintendent, Auckland), W. H. A. Sharp (Assistant Commissioner of Police, Wellington), and Joseph Saunders (Superintendent of Police, Wellington).

The opening was preceded by a parade led by the Auckland Highland Pipe Band under Drum Major P. Faulkner. The parade featured members of the uniform branch, the Criminal Investigation Branch, the women's division, and the dog unit.

The Rotorua Aero Club also flew three Cessna aircraft over the parade.

After the official ceremony, members of the public were invited to view the station and tea and light refreshments were served in the canteen.

Click on the images below to see them full size.

The Daily Post, Wednesday 30 July 1969, p. 9.

Rotorua Photo News, No. 72, 30 August 1969, pp. 22-25.

Rotorua Police Station in the 1980s. Credit: The Daily Post.

An upgrade

There have been minor changes to the station building over the years. For example, in 1989 the station was painted lilac with eden green and chetwode blue highlights. A colour scheme, which divided opinion at the time.

The first part of a major redevelopment occurred in 2008 when the cell block was replaced with a $14 million custody centre.

In 2012 the Fenton Street Police Station underwent a much needed $18.5 million upgrade.

During the demolition and construction of the new building the temporary police station was located across the road in the former Spence's building. Some staff, such as the patrol group, road patrol group, dog handlers and tactical group worked from the existing Fenton Street site out of temporary buildings located behind the custody centre.

The newly renovated station was blessed at 5.15am on Monday 19th May 2014 by several iwi representatives. It had its official opening on 6th June 2014.

Police station under construction. Credit: The Daily Post. Photographer: Stephen Parker

This post was written by Graeme. Thanks to The Daily Post and Policing two peoples: a history of police in the Bay of Plenty (Jinty Rorke, 1993).

Rotorua's First Police Force

Armed Constabulary and Road Builders

Don Stafford records for us in his book "The Founding Years” that the first police requirement for the town involved Armed Constabulary from 1870 located mostly at Kaiteriria (Green Lake) building roads and occasionally doing Police work.  At this time they supported the Arawa troops led by Gilbert Mair.

There was also what was called ‘a station’ at Ohinemutu where Constables Nicholas Marsh and James Kelly operated from a hut in 1873.  The next known policeman was Constable Henshaw, he did not stay long in the area as he married in 1874 and a Sub-Inspector Forster was left in charge when Mair went to Maketu.

In the 1880’s there was a paid contingent of Native Police which included Constables Hare Takerei (1879-1888), Hiwinui Haupapa, Mikaere Te Kati, Hingawaka (1889-1984), Arama Karaka (1894-1899) and George Pratt (1899-1907) 

During this early period of Rotorua’s settlement a constable was stationed here to mostly handle what was listed in the ‘Armed Constabulary Force’ Charge book as ‘drunk and disorderly’.

By 1905 a gaol was situated behind the courthouse, this was still in use in 1965. 

The gaol was also used for the Queen Victoria bust which arrived in 1883, as reported around the country : "An event causing considerable amusement and consternation occurred on Saturday. A Statue of Her Majesty Queen Victoria, lately presented to the Arawas, was being placed in position in Tamatekapu[a], when a cart arrived with an escort of police who took possession of the statue and carried it off to the lockup. No reason given for the proceedings" Wanganui Herald, 24 April 1883, pg. 2 

Here we have a brief biography of one Constable Bill Neil who joined the Rotorua Police in 1907.

Rotorua Photo News 5 May 1967, pg.83

With thanks to Jinty Rorke’s 1993 Policing two peoples: a history of police in the Bay of Plenty, 1867-1992 for the following list of officers : 

1898-1905 Constable William Bern ; 1904-1906 Sergeant William J. Phair ; 1905-1906 Constable Francis J. Blake ; 1906-1909 Sergeant John Watt ; 1906-1909 Constable Luke Spellman ; 1907-1909 Constable James A. Annison ; 1907-1924 Constable William (Bill) Neill ; 1908-1911 Constable Peter Giles ; 1909-1910 Constable Sydney H. Bishop ; 1909-1911 Sergeant Lawrence Carroll ; 1909-1915 Constable Albert Clark ; 1909 Constable William G. Wright ; 1911-1915 Sergeant Edward Eales ; 1913-1916 Constable Patrick J. O'Hara ; 1915-1918 Sergeant Denis J. Cummings ; 1915-1929 Constable Thomas Johnson ; 1916-1927 Constable Donald A. C. McLean ; 1918-1921 Snr. Sergeant Michael McKeefy.  

There are many more men (and Women) who have served our community since then and you can read about them in Jinty Rorke's interesting book.

Our second Police Station as written about in another blog post this month 

Photo courtesy of Kete Rotorua, photographer Faeryl Rotherham, 2012

This post written by Alison. 

February of Yesteryear in Rotorua: Pt 3

It happened on this day.

The display of events that happened on this day in Rotorua is being added to every day on the 2nd Floor of Rotorua District Library. Keep following the events online with our weekly blog posts. This is the third post in a series of four. If you've missed the previous posts, find them here:

1st - 7th February

8th - 14th February

Dates for events are drawn from the works of Don Stafford.

15th February 1985

Moose Lodge becomes luxury resort

Moose Lodge is situated on the shores of Lake Rotoiti.

Dr Frank Rayner bought the land in 1898 and built a hut for weekend fishing trips, hanging stuffed moose heads on the hut’s outside walls. When he died in 1931, his friend Sir Noel Cole bought the land and built Moose Lodge. He and his wife entertained friends, VIPs and even royalty with Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip staying in 1953 and Prince Charles and Princess Anne visiting in 1970.

Moose Lodge reopened in February 1985 as a luxury holiday resort after refurbishment and expansion by owners Errol and Noeline Officer.

Want to know more?

Unique lodges of New Zealand by Jill Malcolm
Don Stafford Files: Hotels Vol. 1, 183
Library Files: Buildings
Rotorua Photonews 5th May 1967

16th February 1984

Ex-President Jimmy Carter Visit ends 

The combined Lions Clubs of Middle Districts and Manawatu invited former US president Jimmy Carter to speak at a fundraising event and he eventually accepted, lured by an added fishing trip.

He also spent time fishing in Taupo and visited the New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute in Rotorua before leaving New Zealand on the 16th of February 1984.

Want to know more?

Rotorua Daily Post Article: 16th February 1984 available on Microfiche at Rotorua District Library.
The Lions Club of Palmerston North Middle Districts History.

17th February 1896

Want to know more?

Hot Lakes Chronicle 19th February 1896 available on Papers Past

18th February 1960

National Film Unit in Rotorua Filming "The Maori Today".

"The Maori Today" is a short documentary filmed by the National Film Unit in 1960. Much of the footage was shot in Rotorua and the Bay of Plenty. While the perspective was one of pakeha promotionalism, there is some quality footage from this time.

Rotorua footage includes Mr Tiwaka Akatipa using the linotype machine at the Post, Māori students from Girls’ and Boys’ High Schools, St Faith’s Church Youth club, carvings and meeting houses.

Want to know more?

Rotorua Post Article: 18th February 1960 available on Microfiche at Rotorua District Library.
Watch the documentary online at NZ On Screen.

19th February 1940

Foundation Stone of Tutanekai St Police Station Laid

Peter Fraser laid the foundation stone of the "new" Police Station on the north-east corner of Haupapa and Tutanekai Streets in what is now the Pig-n-Whistle Pub on the 19th of February 1940.

Underneath the foundation stone there is a box containing copies of the Public Works Statement, estimates and plans of the building and coins and stamps of the realm.

Want to know more?

For more information on the Tutanekai St building including the meaning behind the Maori designs read:
Policing two peoples: a history of police in the Bay of Plenty by Jinty Rorke.
Kete Rotorua - Pig-n-Whistle Pub
Rotorua Morning Post article: 19th Feb 1940 available on Microfiche at Rotorua District Library.

20th February 1924

Spencer Mausoleum Dedicated

The remains of Reverend Seymour Mills Spencer, his wife Ellen and many of their family are in a family vault at Kariri close to the site of the Mission site Spencer settled in 1845. The Spencers worked among the Tuhourangi iwi during their time at Kariri and later at Te Wairoa where they moved in 1852.

A window in St Faith’s Church, Ohinemutu depicts Rev. Seymour Spencer and the umbrella he was well known to carry and even sleep under.

Want to know more?

Mission to Tarawera: Rev. Seymour Mills & Ellen Stanley Spencer and some of their visitors. Lake Tarawera 1842-1870 by J.M. Scobie.
Te Arawa : a history of the Arawa people by D.M. Stafford.
Kete Rotorua
Papers Past

21st February 1883

Guide Kate Given Award for Bravery

Guide Kate, also known as Kate Middlemass or Keita Rangitukia, was presented the Humane Society Medal in February of 1883. While in a canoe with tourists on Lake Rotomahana in January of 1882, the canoe capsized and Mr Bird from Te Puke went under. Kate dived down and brought him back up to the canoe.

Photograph from Kete Rotorua of Guide Sophia, Guide Kate and an unknown guide.

Want to know more?

The Hot Lakes Guides by John Cresswell
Zealandia's brave: the Royal Humane Societies in New Zealand 1850 to 1998 by John Wills.
A to Js Online
Kete Rotorua


This series of posts is written by Sandra Quinn, Heritage Collections Librarian, Rotorua District Library.