Rotorua

Rotorua is a city in the Bay of Plenty Region of New Zealand's North Island. The city lies on the southern shores of Lake Rotorua, from which it takes its name. It is the seat of the Rotorua Lakes District, a territorial authority encompassing Rotorua and several other nearby towns. Rotorua has an estimated resident population of , making it the country's 12th largest urban area, and the Bay of Plenty's second-largest urban area behind Tauranga.
Rotorua is a major destination for both domestic and international tourists; the tourism industry is by far the largest industry in the district. It is known for its geothermal activity, and features geysers – notably the Pōhutu Geyser at Whakarewarewa – and hot mud pools. This thermal activity is sourced to the Rotorua Caldera, in which the town lies.
History
The name Rotorua comes from the Māori language, where the full name for the city and lake is . Roto means 'lake' and rua means 'two' or in this case, 'second' – Rotorua thus meaning 'Second lake'. Kahumatamomoe was the uncle of the Māori chief Ihenga, the ancestral explorer of the Te Arawa. It was the second major lake the chief discovered, and he dedicated it to his uncle. It is the largest of a multitude of lakes found to the northeast, all connected with the Rotorua Caldera and nearby Mount Tarawera. The name can also mean the equally appropriate 'Crater lake'.
The area was initially settled by Māori of the Te Arawa Iwi in the 14th century. During the early 1820s Ngāpuhi led by chief Hongi Hika launched a series of raids into the Bay of Plenty as a part of the Musket Wars, in 1823 a Ngapuhi raiding party led by Hongi Hika attacked Te Arawa at their Pā (Fortified settlement) on Mokoia Island defeating them. The first European in the area was probably Phillip Tapsell who was trading from the Bay of Plenty coast at Maketu from 1828. He later married into Te Arawa and became highly regarded by them. Missionaries Henry Williams and Thomas Chapman visited in 1831 and Chapman and his wife established a mission at Te Koutu in 1835. This was abandoned within a year, but Chapman returned in 1838 and established a second mission at Mokoia Island.
The lakeshore was a prominent site of skirmishes during the New Zealand Wars of the 1860s. William Fox advocated for turning the Rotorua region into a national park, inspired by the Yellowstone in the United States. Conversely, the Te Arawa community suggested the establishment of a township centered around Rotorua's thermal springs, with the intent of developing a Polynesian Spa and health resort where tourists could indulge in hot pools. In 1880, instead of selling the land, the Ngāti Whakaue people leased 50 acres to the Crown under the Fenton Agreement, granting the government the authority to offer 99-year leases on their behalf. Revenues from leases helped fund Rotorua Boys' High School, and increased significantly upon the expiry of the 99-year leases. The eponymous Fenton Street in the modern city’s CBD bears the judge’s name. Nevertheless, the enactment of the Thermal Springs District Act in 1881 gave the government exclusive rights to both purchase and lease lands containing hot springs, lakes, or river, and as a result, by the turn of the century, nearly half of the Rotorua blocks were sold. In 1993, the Crown settled a Treaty of Waitangi claim with the Ngāti Whakaue people to honour their broken contract, by agreeing to return the gifted lands that were no longer required for their original use.
The town was connected to Auckland with the opening of the Rotorua Branch railway and commencement of the Rotorua Express train in 1894, resulting in the rapid growth of the town and tourism from this time forward. Guidebooks about the 'Land of Boiling Water' also proliferated. During the 1880s, tourists, especially from Australia, started visiting Rotorua to witness its natural marvels like the Pink and White Terraces until these were destroyed in a volcanic eruption in 1886. Rotorua was established as a borough in 1922, elected its first mayor in 1923, and declared a city in 1962 before becoming a district in 1979.
Geography
Setting
The city of Rotorua and the adjacent Lake Rotorua are located within the Rotorua Caldera that was formed in a major volcanic eruption approximately 240,000 years ago. The caldera is the source of the geothermal activity that is a key feature of the city and surrounding region.
Climate
The Rotorua region enjoys a mild temperate climate (Cfb). Rotorua is situated inland from the coast and is sheltered by high country to the south and east of the city, resulting in less wind than many other places in New Zealand. During the winter months, June – August, temperatures can drop below 0 °C. Frost is common in Rotorua during its winter months, with an average of 57 ground frosts annually, and 20 nights per year below 0 °C. Snowfall in Rotorua is rare, and since the 1970s has only been recorded twice. On 15 August 2011 and 13 July 2017, snowflakes fell in the town centre, and during the July 2017 snowfall, snow accumulated in the nearby Mamaku ranges and in the outer reaches of the district, where snowfall occurs on average once every three years.
Lakes
The Rotorua region has 17 lakes, known collectively as the Lakes of Rotorua. Fishing, waterskiing, swimming and other water activities are popular in summer. Several of the lakes are stocked for sports fishing with trout from the Fish and Game New Zealand hatchery at Ngongotahā. The lakes are also used for event venues; Rotorua hosted the 2007 World Waterski Championships and Lake Rotorua was the venue for the World Blind Sailing Championships in March 2009. Lake Rotorua is also used as a departure and landing point for float planes.
Suburbs
Inner suburbs
Outer suburbs
Demography
The Rotorua urban area, as defined by Statistics New Zealand, covers and incorporates 26 statistical areas. It has an estimated population of as of .
The Rotorua urban area had a usual resident population of 54,204 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 5,289 people (10.8%) since the 2013 census. There were 26,211 males and 27,993 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.936 males per female. Of the total population, 12,366 people (22.8%) were aged up to 15 years, 11,052 (20.4%) were 15 to 29, 22,980 (42.4%) were 30 to 64, and 7,809 (14.4%) were 65 or older.
In terms of ethnicity, 59.2% were European/Pākehā, 42.3% were Māori, 6.2% were Pacific peoples, 11.5% were Asian, and 1.5% were other ethnicities (totals add to more than 100% since people could identify with multiple ethnicities).
Government
Local
In October 2013, Steve Chadwick was elected Mayor of Rotorua and was re-elected in the 2016 mayoral election and the 2019 mayoral election. She previously served as the Member of Parliament for Rotorua between 1999 and 2008, and served as a Cabinet Minister in the Fifth Labour Government.
In 2022, Tania Tapsell was elected as the Mayor of Rotorua. She is the first woman of Māori descent to hold the role.
National
Rotorua is covered by the Rotorua electorate for the general roll and the Waiariki electorate for the Māori roll.
Geothermal attractions
There are many geothermal attractions in the Rotorua area, including:
Kuirau Park, in the central city
Government Gardens, including Sulphur Point
Te Puia - a visitor attraction located in the Whakarewarewa volcanic valley, and home of the Pōhutu Geyser
Tikitere - Hell's Gate Geothermal Park & Mud Spa
Te Wairoa ("The Buried Village") — so named after it was buried by the 1886 Mount Tarawera eruption
Lake Rotomahana
Waimangu Volcanic Valley
Waikite Valley Thermal Pools
A common nickname for Rotorua is "Sulphur City" due to the hydrogen sulphide emissions, which gives the city a smell similar to "rotten eggs", as well as "Rotten-rua" combining its legitimate name and the rotten smell prevalent. Another common nickname is "Roto-Vegas", likening the city's own strip of road flanked by businesses and restaurants to that of Las Vegas.
The especially pungent smell in the central-east 'Te Ngae' area is due to the dense sulphur deposits located next to the southern boundary of the Government Gardens, in the area known as 'Sulphur Point'.
Other attractions
Rotorua is also home to botanical gardens and historic architecture. Known as a spa town and major tourist resort since the 1800s, many of its buildings hint at this history. Government Gardens, close to the lake-shore at the eastern edge of the town, include the Rotorua Museum of Art and History, housed in the large Tudor-style bath house building, and the Art Deco style Blue Baths, noted for its embrace of mixed sex bathing in the 1930s. , both buildings are closed because of earthquake strength concerns.
Another of Rotorua's attractions is mountain biking. Rotorua was listed as one of the Top 6 mountain biking destinations globally by the International Mountain Biking Association in 2015, when they awarded Rotorua the gold level ride center status. The Whakarewarewa forest includes over 150 km of mountain bike trails and in August 2006 was a host of the UCI Mountain Bike and Trials World Championships. Each year, from 2015-present, Rotorua has hosted a round of the Crankworx World Tour.
The Rotorua Pistol club is among the largest in the Southern Hemisphere and hosted the 2013 Australasian IPSC Handgun Championship.
The Kaituna River, 15 minutes drive northeast of the CBD, provides class 5 whitewater kayaking and rafting through a spectacular tree lined gorge.
Another visitor attraction in the Ngongotahā area is the Wingspan National Bird of Prey Centre. It is a captive breeding facility and visitor centre located in the Ngongotahā Valley. Wingspan undertakes conservation, education and research activities related to birds of prey found in New Zealand, and provides demonstrations of falconry.
Transport
Road
Rotorua is served by state highways 5, 30, and 30A, and the Thermal Explorer Highway touring route, with state highways 33 and 36 terminating on the outskirts of the town.
State Highway 5, running concurrently with the Thermal Explorer Highway, is the main north–south route through Rotorua, bypassing the town centre to the west. North of the town at Ngongotahā, State Highway 36 splits off to provide a route to Tauranga via Pyes Pa, while State Highway 5 turns westward, connecting to State Highway 1 at Tīrau and providing the main route into Rotorua from Hamilton and Auckland. To the south, State Highway 5 provides the main route from Taupō, Hawke's Bay, Manawatu, and Wellington.
State Highway 30 runs southwest to northeast through the town. It enters the town in the southwest (running concurrently with SH 5), before crossing the southern suburbs to the shore of Lake Rotorua east of the town centre. It then runs through the suburb of Te Ngae, before splitting off SH 33 to continue eastwards.
State Highway 30A runs northwest to southeast, connecting State Highways 5 and 30 with each other via the town centre.
Bus
Rotorua has a local bus service, with 11 routes under the Baybus brand, serving the urban area, mostly at half-hourly intervals, operated by Reesby Buses. Bike racks were introduced in 2017 and Bee Cards for fares on 27 July 2020. Trial commuter services between Rotorua and Tauranga are running in each direction until the end of 2021. The city is also served by InterCity and services to local tourist sites.
History
Edwin Robertson, who died aged 74 in 1931, started with pack horses in 1869 and ran coaches from 1873. In 1902, the Tauranga route was sold and became Robertson & Co, then, about 1903, Rotorua Motor Coaching Co. Ltd. In 1904, Hot Lakes Transport, which ran trips to Taupo, Waiotapu and all the lakes, and Rotorua Motor Coaching added motor cars to their fleets of coaches. In 1905 E. Robertson & Co moved from Ohinemutu to the new town, close to the new railway station, which remained the main stop until InterCity moved to their stop from Hinemoa / Fenton Street to the Tourism Office in 1995. The last coach ran in 1919. When Hot Lakes Transport's assets were sold in 1920, they had 10 coaches and 3 motor cars. In September 1920, Rotorua Motor Transport Co. was formed and took over Hot Lakes Transport Co. and Rotorua Motor Coaching Co, continuing with similar services. In 1926, a consortium of local operators formed Rotorua Bus Co. During 1922, Kusab's transport company became K Motors, which was taken over by the railways in 1938. Rotorua Motor Transport and Rotorua Bus Co followed in 1940 and all became part of New Zealand Railways Road Services.
Air
Rotorua Regional Airport is located northeast of the city centre, off State Highway 30. Air New Zealand provides daily turbo-prop flights between Rotorua and Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch airports. Previously Qantas also operated Boeing 737 aircraft from Christchurch, but upon their departure from domestic flights in New Zealand this was discontinued.
Scenic and chartered flights in both helicopters and float planes are operated by Volcanic Air, who are based on Rotorua's lake front.
From 2009 to 2015 there was also an international link, with direct Sydney to Rotorua flights.
Rail
Rotorua is connected to the rail network by the Rotorua Branch line from Putāruru. Until 2001, passenger trains ran from Auckland to Rotorua via Hamilton daily using Silver Fern railcars, terminating north of the town centre at Koutu (the original station on Amohau Street was closed and relocated to Koutu in 1989). However, owing to poor advertising of the service and the location of the station being a 15-minute walk from the town centre in an industrial area, passenger services stopped in October 2001. Freight services on the line declined over the decades until the nightly freight service stopped in 2000, largely due to a continual move of freight and passengers onto road transport using ever-improving highways in the region. The line is currently disused.
Education
Tertiary
Rotorua is home to the central campus of Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology, which provides a range of certificates, diplomas and a limited number of degree-level programmes. The largest programmes on offer are Te Reo Māori (Māori language), nursing, forestry, business, computing, tourism and hospitality. , Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology is a business division of Te Pūkenga – New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology.
Secondary
Rotorua has five secondary schools:
John Paul College, a co-educational, state-integrated Catholic school for Years 7–13 with about 1200 students
Rotorua Boys' High School, a state boys school for Years 9–13 with about 1000 students
Rotorua Girls' High School, a state girls school for Years 9–13 with about 600 students
Rotorua Lakes High School serving the eastern suburbs. A co-educational state school for Years 9–13 with about 700 students
Western Heights High School serving the western suburbs. A co-educational state school for Years 9–13 with about 1200 students
Students can also attend Te Rangihakahaka Centre for Science and Techbnology, a Māori- and English-medium special character school from years 1–10. It currently has around 100 students. Students here need to attend a mainstream secondary school or Kura Kaupapa Māori for their senior secondary schooling.
Kura Kaupapa Māori (Māori language immersion schools)
Rotorua has four Kura Kaupapa Māori:
Te Wharekura o Ngāti Rongomai years 0–13 with about 115 students in eastern Rotorua
Te Kura Kaupapa Māori O Te Koutu years 0–13 with about 240 students in western Rotorua
Te Kura Kaupapa Māori O Ruamata years 0–13 with about 240 students in semi-rural eastern Rotorua
Te Kura Kaupapa Māori O Hurungaterangi years 0–8 with about 80 students in central Rotorua
Media
Rotorua has several media organisations, including the Rotorua Daily Post, More FM Rotorua and The Hits Rotorua.
Sister cities
Rotorua's sister cities are:
Beppu, Japan
Klamath Falls, United States
Lake Macquarie, Australia
Wuzhong (Suzhou), China
Notable people
Valerie Adams, Olympic shot putter
Steven Adams, basketball player
Israel Adesanya, mixed martial artist, former UFC Middleweight Champion
Michael Barker, drummer
Jean Batten, aviator
Sam Bewley, Olympic cyclist
Manu Bennett, actor
Trent Boult, New Zealand cricketer
Scott Curry, All Blacks 7s, Bay of Plenty 7s
Cliff Curtis, actor
Julian Dean, road racing cyclist
Mike Delany, rugby union player, All Black
Dame Susan Devoy, squash player
Tom Donnelly, All Black, rugby union player
Alan Duff, writer
Gary Jeshel Forrester, musician, writer, academic
Jack Foster, Olympic marathon runner
Tony Gordon, rugby league player and coach
Bevan Hari, hockey player
Dylan Hartley, rugby union player (For the English National Team.)
Tame Iti, maori activist
David Kosoof, Olympic hockey player
Danny Lee, professional golfer
Dennis List, poet and writer
Angus Hikairo Macfarlane, educator
Steve McDowall, All Black
Hinematau McNeill (also writing as Naomi Te Hiini) academic and treaty negotiator
Jon Mark, Musician. solo artist and co-founder of Mark-Almond
Tony Marsh, rugby union player (for French national team)
Elizabeth Marvelly, soprano
Liam Messam, rugby union player (for Waikato and NZ)
Sir Howard Morrison, entertainer
Temuera Morrison, actor.
Craig Newby, All Black
Caleb Ralph, All Black
William Ripia, rugby union player (Wellington Hurricanes, Western Force, Bay of Plenty, Otago Highlanders, Maori All Black)
Joe Royal, rugby union player (Bay of Plenty Steamers and Māori All Blacks)
Ben Sandford, Olympic men's skeleton racer
Wayne "Buck" Shelford, former All Black
Miriama Smith, actress
Sir Peter Tapsell, politician
Te Pokiha Taranui, tribal leader and soldier
Ngahuia Te Awekotuku, academic, scholar activist, Emeritus Professor
Sir Gordon Tietjens, New Zealand and Samoan Sevens rugby coach
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, rugby league player (Sydney Roosters and New Zealand Kiwis)
Dean Whare, rugby league player (Penrith Panthers and New Zealand Kiwis)
References
External links
Info-Rotorua | Visitor Information TV & website
Official Rotorua YouTube channel
Populated places in the Bay of Plenty Region
Territorial authorities of New Zealand
Spa towns in New Zealand
Populated places on Lake Rotorua