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Big Red – New Zealand’s endangered Pōhutukawa
Tuesday, 4 July 2017
In 2003 Rotorua Museum opened their exhibition called Big Red – celebrating the pōhutukawa. It marked 11 years of Project Crimson, a community-based project to save the endangered tree. Back then the main dangers for the pōhutukawa were possums and humans. Today Project Crimson is 27 years old, and there…
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Māori All Blacks: Looking Back at One of Our Own
Thursday, 15 June 2017
Rotorua is home to a number of Māori All Black greats. With the 2017 Māori All Black squad in town, we thought we would look back at one of our own: Hector Archibald Steele (1915-1990). Hector, known as Heke, was the youngest son of Duncan and Ngaroma Steele who both…
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Tarawera Sausages
Saturday, 10 June 2017
The Tarawera eruption On 10 June 1886 at about 2am an eruption of great magnitude occurred in the Rotorua region. It was Mount Tarawera, just 24km from the town. The eruption lasted 6 hours and consisted of lightning, earthquakes and molten rocks which were thrown into the air along with…
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Le Vaiaso o le Gagana Samoa – Samoan Language Week 2017
Sunday, 28 May 2017
Talofa Lava! We are very excited to launch our new blog which kicks off by celebrating Pacific Island Language Weeks 2017. Over the course of each Pacific Island language week, we will share some of our newfound knowledge, engage directly with our Pacific communities to share treasures from the Museum’s…
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Norma Evans (1927 – 2017) – loss of a true Rotorua icon
Wednesday, 19 April 2017
It is with great sadness that we acknowledge the passing of Norma Evans (1927-2017) – the loss of a true Rotorua icon. Born in Invercargill on 27 May 1927, Norma Mae Jackson was brought up in Kurow, Central Otago, in a family steeped in the ‘making-do’ tradition. Her mother and…
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Melvin Vaniman’s Rotorua adventure
Monday, 16 January 2017
Melvin Vaniman was an American photographer with a tendency towards thrill seeking and risk taking. Under an agreement with the Oceanic Steamship Company, in 1902 – 1903 he travelled to various countries including New Zealand. During this time he came to Rotorua where he took some photographs which are held…
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Featured Collection Item – WWI Victory Medal Awarded to Ohinemutu man
Thursday, 10 November 2016
When the Rotorua RSA closed its doors in 2015, there were real fears many items in the collection would end up outside Rotorua or worse yet, outside the country. RECT to the Rescue Thanks to Rotorua Energy Charitable Trust (RECT) three hundred pieces of valuable memorabilia will now stay in…
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Featured Collection Item – Jean Batten ‘Hine-o-te-Rangi’
Friday, 14 October 2016
Jean Batten was and remains New Zealand’s greatest aviator. Famous the world over for her heroic solo flights, she garnered many names ‘the Garbo of the skies’ and in closer reference to home ‘Hine o te Rangi’ ‘daughter of the skies’. A life of public fame and adoration followed by…
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Featured Collection Item – Viking ship as gift from US Navy fleet visit 1925
Friday, 12 August 2016
US Navy fleets have tended to feature quite strongly in the life and history of the Rotorua bathouse building. Bath House building opens It began with the buildings opening, 13 August 1908 by US Rear Admiral Sperry during his fleet’s visit to New Zealand. It would be another 17 years…
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Before Tarawera erupted – keeping the Terraces alive
Wednesday, 8 June 2016
The anniversary of the Tarawera eruption reminds us of what was lost – life and a national treasure, the 8th wonder of the world the pink and white terraces.
Oruawhata Drive
Govt Gardens, Rotorua
07 350 1814
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Hours
Rotorua Museum is closed while detailed earthquake assessment is completed.
