Hiapo Summit-Rotorua, Rotorua

Paepaehakumanu Motutara - Hatupatu Drive

Rotorua Community Halls

Hatupatu Drive which leads to the end of the Government Gardens Reserve may appear like a trip to nowhere, yet most visitors cannot help themselves but take a walk or a drive down the dead end just to check what's not there. Or maybe what's there but not seen.

Those who stop for a minute on a good day are rewarded with fantastic lake views, and those who take a deeper look may learn the golf course, heritage buildings, gardens, croquet lawns, events centre, and other Pakeha constructs on this promontory are only pasted upon the land that has always been the very beating heart of the Ngati Whakaue o Te Arawa.

Pa sites, urupa, cultivation areas, swamps, thermal cooking areas and battle grounds are all represented, although barely visible, at Paepaehakumanu Motutara, an area special to Te Arawa and particularly the Ngati Whakaue. Centuries ago, a fierce battle between Tuwharetoa and Te Arawa took place here, much blood was spilled, Ngati Whakaue losing two important chiefs. The bodies of those two chiefs and others were interred in a special hotpool named Oruawhata, to prevent their desecration by enemies, but now even the pool has been covered over and lost. Tapu on this land dates back to this battle, regardless of when it was recognised by Pakeha. A later battle with Uenukukopako of Mokoia Island saw the area named 'Te Toto' the place of blood. There remain other burial grounds which cannot be seen under the overlay of the present.

In 1881, these 50 acres were given over to the government by Te Arawa, “for the benefit of the people of the world” (Hei oranga mo nga iwi katoa o te Ao). The Blue Baths and Government Buildings went up, the Government Gardens were planted. When care of the reserve was transferred to the District Council in 1987, it is said to have cemented the close bond between local government and Te Arawa. Features seemingly incongruous yet beautiful and accepted, which have been developed here include the Klamath Falls Rose Garden, Arawa Soldiers Memorial, Kwaqiulth Totem Pole, a band rotunda, children's playground and golf driving range. An abandoned sanatorium is the reason behind the sometime title for the area, 'Sanatorium Reserve'. That complex has recently begun a revival as a health spa.

It wasn't until 2012 that Heritage New Zealand registered Wahi Tapu of the area amongst it's list of otherwise purely Pakeha symbols in the geothermal city. The registration was celebrated with an exhibition at the Museum featuring an acrylic waka, made by Weta Workshop to represent the orignal Te Arawa waka. In 2015, Ngati Whakaue artist Michael Staite created an impressive 3D sculptural fence in the park, his inspiration being the history of the land and the gift “Hei oranga mo nga iwi katoa o te Ao.”

Perhaps the best way to envision the layers of history without the precise clipped surfaces of gardens and golf is at the end of Hatupatu Drive, (which was named for the same Hatupatu of Te Arawa as the 'Wishing Rock'). Walk along the foreshore, the traditional bird snaring ground, where flaxes and other plants were also gathered for weaving. And sometimes still are. Gaze maybe towards Mokoia Island, where to and fro of waka was once in the name of war, and is now for the more peaceful purpose of saving endangered wildlife and birds. Beware the living distractions too, the swans, herons and some other birdlife are also introduced.

Maybe visitors do somehow know that this is a very special place. Generations of them have etched their names and messages in the soft rocks of the lake foreshore, like early tourists did at the Pink and White Terraces did over 150 years ago. Of course the story goes that the gods were upset about the desecration of the beautiful terraces, burying them forever with the eruption of Mount Tarawera.

Geothermal energy and Te Arawa spiritual energy are never far beneath the surface in Rotorua.

Image Credit: Jil Beckmann

Features

  • Rock
  • Lake

Location

Directions

Nearby this Place

Explore

Featured Nearby

Nearby Community Halls

Sir Howard Morrison Performing Arts Centre and Rotorua Civic Centre

Sir Howard Morrison Performing Arts Centre and Rotorua Civic Centre

1.0 km 6

View
Rotorua Police Station

Rotorua Police Station

1.1 km 1

View
Te Puia and New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute Rotorua

Te Puia and New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute Rotorua

3.9 km 1

View
Stoney Point Reserve and Rangiuru Bay

Stoney Point Reserve and Rangiuru Bay

13.6 km 1

View

Featured Nearby

You May Also Like

Energy Events Centre
Energy Events Centre

Hiapo Summit-Rotorua, Rotorua

0.7 km 1

Rotorua Museum of Art and History and The Blue Baths
Rotorua Museum of Art and History and The Blue Baths

Hiapo Summit-Rotorua, Rotorua

0.8 km 6

Polynesian Spa
Polynesian Spa

Victoria, Rotorua

0.9 km 1

Princes Gate Boutique Hotel Rotorua
Princes Gate Boutique Hotel Rotorua

Hiapo Summit-Rotorua, Rotorua

0.9 km 7