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. 

February of Yesteryear in Rotorua : Pt 2

It happened on this day.

The display of events that happened on this day in history in Rotorua is being added to every day on the 2 ^nd Floor of Rotorua District Library. Keep following the events online with our weekly blog posts. This is the second post in a series of four. If you missed the first post, read it here. Dates for events are drawn from the works of Don Stafford

8th February 1960

First traffic lights.

Traffic lights were used in Rotorua for the first time at 2:50pm on the 8th of February 1960 on the corner of Hinemoa and Tutanekai Streets.

Want to know more?

Read about the ensuing confusion in the Rotorua Daily Post for February 9 ^th 1960 available on Microfiche at Rotorua District Library.

9th February 1959

Diesel Railcar Service replaces Steam Express

The first diesel railcar service from Auckland to Rotorua started on the 9^th of February 1959. The new daily service meant the end of the Steam Express. The railway to Rotorua had officially opened in December of 1894.

Photograph from Auckland City Libraries of the Rotorua Express.

Want to know more?

Last train to paradise: journeys from the golden age of New Zealand railways by Graham Hutchins
The New Century in Rotorua by D.M. Stafford.
Rotorua Post 9^th & 14^th of February 1959 available on Microfiche at Rotorua District Library.
Kete Rotorua

10th February 1970

Kepa Ehau Dies at Home in Ohinemutu.

Kepa Hamuera Anaha Ehau was a law clerk, interpreter, WW1 soldier and Te Arawa Leader. He had vast knowledge of iwi history and whakapapa and was most noted for his whaikōrero or oratory.

Kepa Ehau was of Ngāti Whakaue and Ngāti Tarawhai/Te Arawa descent. As well as speaking Te Reo Māori and English, he also spoke French, German and Italian.

Want to know more?

Kepa Ehau me ōna hononga = Kepa Ehau and his affiliations by Darrell Guy Rangitihi Pene.
Te kaka tarahae : he kohikohinga pakiwaitara, poroporoaki hoki  = a collection of stories and speeches of farewell by Kepa Ehau of Ngati Whakaue, Te Arawa ; compiled by Hamuera Walker Mitchell.
Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand

11th February 1966

A & P Showgrounds becomes Utuhina Park Subdivision.

The old Rotorua A & P Showgrounds were across from Rotorua High School on Old Taupo Rd. The first Rotorua Agricultural, Pastoral, and Industrial Association show was held in 1910. ‘Utuhina Park’ subdivision was advertised on the 11^th of February 1966 and the A & P showgrounds has since been at the Western Road site in Ngongotaha.

Want to know more?

Daily Post 11^th of February 1966 available on Microfiche at Rotorua District Library.
Papers Past

12th February 1893

First Race Meeting at Arawa Park.

Race meetings of the Rotorua Jockey Club or Rotorua Racing Club were held in Rotorua as early as 1872. The earlier course was in the area now encompassed by Pukuatua, Fenton, Amohau and Amohia Streets.

The first race meeting was held at the new Arawa Park course on the 12 ^th of February 1893 and they continue on the same site to this day. Photograph of a Scene at Arawa Park in 1901 from the Alexander Turnbull Library.

Want to know more?

The Founding Years in Rotorua by D.M. Stafford

13th February 1946

Gas Producer Cars Banned in Rotorua.

Cars converted to run using charcoal burning gas burners were called gas-producers. It was an alternative to petrol in the 1940s when petrol was rationed.

Gas producers were less powerful and some motorists dropped live embers on the roadside. It was thought that some large fires in the North Island may have been caused by gas producer cars.

Photograph of car with rear charcoal gas producer from Wikimedia Commons.

Want to know more?

The New Zealand People at War : The Home Front Vol. 2
See video footage of coal gas for cars in the 1940s
Rural fire history of New Zealand

14th February 1900

Ohinemutu residents raise patriotic funds for Boer War

The 2^nd Boer War started in October 1899 and ended in May 1902. Over 6100 New Zealanders served in South Africa over this time. 

Government funding for the soldiers needed to be supplemented and the New Zealand public, women in particular, raised Patriotic Funds by selling items and running events.

Want to know more?

Papers Past
Rough Riders at War by Richard Stowers.
NZ History - South African War 1899-1902  


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

Rotorua Transport Companies of Yesteryear.

Tourists Travel by Luxury Car to Rotorua

With thanks to Don Stafford's 'The new century in Rotorua' for the following information.

In 1902 it took just 2 days to drive from Auckland to Rotorua by car, the road conditions were deemed acceptable, with the stretch of road through the 'Oxford Bush' (now Mamaku), which had been cut up with the timber and fire wood wagons, being the only exception.

Mr Edwin Robertson's coaching company was the biggest private employer during the early 1900s, by 1903 his company was taken over by a group financed by two Auckland businessmen and two other men who had also been in Rotorua coaching circles, William Carr and Thornton Walker.

The new company was titled "Rotorua Motor Coaching Co. Ltd" By 1908 R.M. Coaching Co. had a fleet of cars as well as the coaches, however the condition of the roads between 1910-1919 was of greater concern for those using motor cars than it was for horse-drawn vehicles.  Unfortunately by 1918, the R.M. Transport Co. was in dire financial straits and folded soon after in 1919, at that time the last coach ran also.

 In September of 1920 a new company by the name of Rotorua Motor Transport Co. was formed that also took over the Hot Lakes Transport Co. as well.  During 1922 the Kusab's transport company became "K Motors"  from this time the new players in the transport industry grew and Taxi companies were formed and later Bus companies began operating between town's making travel that much easier albeit a little bumpy! and sometimes the roads were impassable too.

From "Wises New Zealand Post Office Directory" 1898

One of the first ever transport companies in the Rotorua region.

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

From : Papers Past, article in 'Auckland Star' 3rd September 1937