• Lynn Gillespie

    Monday, 29 October 2018

    Meet Lynn Gillespie,a retired teacher, who has joined our team of enthusiastic ‘Outside the Walls’ Walking Tour guides. While the closure of the Bath House has dealt a huge blow to Rotorua, I can see a positive; the ‘Outside the Walls’ tours give visitors and locals an opportunity they wouldn’t…

    More

  • A rich history of Royal visitors to Rotorua

    Tuesday, 23 October 2018

    Rotorua has a long history of putting on a good spread and a good show for members of the royal family. Rotorua has warmly welcomed the following royal family members: 1870                The Duke of Edinburgh 1901                The Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York (later King George V and Queen…

    More

  • Crated Te Rangitakaroro being loaded at Rotorua Museum Te Whare Taonga o Te Arawa, 2018.

    Rotorua Museum prepares for construction phase with removal of taonga into safe storage

    Thursday, 18 October 2018

    In readiness for the construction phase of Rotorua Museum, due to get underway mid next year, the remaining 25 taonga (treasures) have been safely removed from the Bath House building into specialised storage facilities. These artefacts were located in the newer southern end of the Museum, the Don Stafford Wing,…

    More

  • Neila Blackmore Volunteer Guide

    Neila Blackmore

    Friday, 28 September 2018

    Meet Neila Blackmore, one of our enthusiastic new Outside the Walls Walking Tour guides. Before undertaking her guide training, Neila thought she knew all about the Government Gardens. From her home in Pūkaki St, and her parents restaurant, The Empire, the gardens were Neila’s playground. Here is her story.  Although…

    More

  • Architect appointed for restoration and development of Rotorua Museum

    Thursday, 27 September 2018

      DPA Architects, with previous experience refurbishing Rotorua Museum, has been appointed to carry out the design work for the restoration of the heritage Bath House building, with help from local firm, Carling Architects. Rotorua Lakes Council’s Arts and Culture manager, Stewart Brown, says restoration work is due to get…

    More

  • Plate with image of White Terrace Eruption, date unknown, maker unknown, Rotorua Museum Te Whare Taonga o Te Arawa (2011.63.3)

    Souvenir ware plate ‘Eruption of the White Terrace’

    Wednesday, 11 July 2018

    The Rotorua Museum has what we think is the biggest collection of souvenir ware in museums in New Zealand. Most of the pieces were made in the 1900s and have scenes like the Bath House, Sanatorium, Prince’s Gate, Ohinemutu, or Whakarewarewa. This plate is unusual in that is shows an…

    More

  • Centennial Trust presents $200k towards Museum strengthening

    Wednesday, 4 July 2018

    Rotorua Museum Centennial Trust presented $200,000 to Rotorua Lakes Council towards the seismic strengthening of Rotorua Museum. The contribution was presented to the Council during last week’s (Thursday 28 June) Full Council meeting by Rotorua Museum Centennial Trust Chairman, Lyall Thurston. He says the decision to make the donation was…

    More

  • The mummified cat from Tarawera eruption, found at Wairoa 1901 by C. Crowther, Rotorua

    The mystery of the Tarawera cats

    Friday, 8 June 2018

    Many people will remember the dried remains of a cat which had been displayed in Rotorua Museum in recent years. In fact it has been described as one of the museum’s most popular exhibits. Here is the story of the three Tarawera cats that were included in the Tarawera eruption…

    More

  • Crowds gather at Fred Wylie Memorial Carnival Day in February 1904

    Fred Wylie and his rifle

    Thursday, 24 May 2018

    Most Rotorua residents will be familiar with the memorial in Government Gardens to soldier Fred W. Wylie but they might not know his story or why he was honoured with a memorial. The 26th of May marks the anniversary of his death. Frederick William Wylie was living in Galatea (76…

    More

  • Catch up with the Curator: Margaret Aull, Taonga Gallery and Tuku Iho Collection Curator

    Monday, 12 March 2018

    We’re excited to kick off the first Catch up with the Curator blog for 2018. This week Rotorua Museum’s Lead Exhibitions Curator, Ane Tonga, caught up with esteemed artist and curator Margaret Aull (Te Rarawa, Tūwharetoa, Fiji). Margaret is an established artist who has exhibited her artwork nationally and internationally,…

    More

Website by Hodgeman Web Design