Rotorua

Rotorua, a dynamic city located on the southern banks of Lake Rotorua on New Zealand’s North Island, has a population of around 58,900 inhabitants. This designates it as the 13th largest urban area in the nation and the second largest in the Bay of Plenty Region, subsequent to Tauranga. Located in an area famous for its geothermal phenomena and vibrant Māori culture, Rotorua is the administrative center of the Rotorua Lakes District, a territorial authority that includes the city and many adjacent villages.

The history of Rotorua is intricately connected to Māori culture and settlement. The initial Māori settlers of the region arrived in the 14th century, founding a prosperous pā (fortified settlement) at Ohinemutu. This colony subsequently became the basis for the Ngāti Whakaue people, who maintain a prominent presence in the city’s cultural milieu. During the 1820s, Rotorua was entangled in the violent Musket Wars, with Ohinemutu succumbing to an assault orchestrated by the Ngāpuhi coalition, commanded by Hongi Hika and Pōmare I in 1823.

In the 19th century, European settlers’ interest in the region intensified, making Rotorua’s distinctive geothermal activity a significant aspect of development. The city’s evolution into a spa town resulted from a partnership between Māori and European settlers, culminating in a 99-year land lease from Ngāti Whakaue to the Government. This arrangement established the foundation for Rotorua’s development as a prominent tourist destination.

Initially, Rotorua’s tourism sector focused on the adjacent Pink and White Terraces, natural marvels that attracted people from distant locations. The devastating eruption of Mount Tarawera in 1886 obliterated these terraces, compelling the city to redefine its allure for tourists. Notwithstanding this setback, Rotorua persisted in its growth and development, attaining borough status in 1922 and subsequently reaching city status four decades later in 1962.

Today, Rotorua exemplifies the perseverance and resourcefulness of its inhabitants, having evolved into a globally recognized destination for both local and foreign travelers. The tourism sector dominates the district, acting as the principal economic engine. Tourists converge on Rotorua to explore its geothermal wonders and engage in Māori cultural activities. The geothermal activity of the city, originating from the Rotorua Caldera on which it is situated, is evident in its remarkable geysers and effervescent mud pools. The Pōhutu Geyser at Whakarewarewa is a notably remarkable natural phenomenon.

The area around Rotorua features 17 lakes, commonly referred to as the Lakes of Rotorua. The bodies of water are essential to the region’s recreational activities, especially in the summer when fishing, waterskiing, and swimming are favored pastimes. Numerous lakes are replenished with trout from the Fish and Game New Zealand hatchery at Ngongotahā, rendering them optimal for sports fishing aficionados. The lakes have hosted international athletic events, such as the 2007 World Waterski Championships and the 2009 World Blind Sailing Championships. Lake Rotorua functions as both a leisure center and a takeoff and landing location for float planes, enhancing the city’s transit alternatives with an adventurous aspect.

Rotorua considerably adds to New Zealand’s overall gross domestic product (GDP). In 2022, the Rotorua District’s GDP was $4,241 million, representing 1.2% of the national GDP. The district’s economic landscape is varied, with high-value services, such as professional, managerial, scientific, and technical vocations, constituting the largest sector at 20% of the local GDP. Goods-producing industries account for 17.8%, while primary industries, including agriculture and forestry, contribute 10.2%. The tourism sector significantly contributes to Rotorua’s economy, accounting for 5.5% of the district’s GDP, in contrast to the national average of 2.8%.

The city’s designation as a prominent tourist destination is evidenced by its employment statistics, showing a greater percentage of individuals engaged in the hotel industry (3.3%) relative to the national average (1.1%). The four predominant industries in the district, determined by employment statistics, are hospitals, hotels, cafes and restaurants, and elementary education, highlighting the significance of both the service industry and vital public services to the local economy.

The architectural environment of Rotorua reflects its extensive history as a spa town and tourist destination. The Government Gardens, located by the lakeshore at the town’s eastern boundary, contain several of the city’s most emblematic structures. The Rotorua Museum of Art and History, located in an impressive Tudor-style bathhouse, and the Art Deco Blue Baths, renowned for introducing mixed-sex bathing in the 1930s, exemplify this tradition. As of October 2023, both buildings are temporarily closed owing to earthquake safety concerns, underscoring the persistent problems of protecting old structures in a geologically active area.

The geothermal features dispersed over Rotorua and its vicinity remain significant attractions for tourists. These encompass Kuirau Park in the city center, the Government Gardens featuring Sulphur Point, Te Puia in the Whakarewarewa volcanic valley (home to the renowned Pōhutu Geyser), Tikitere (also referred to as Hell’s Gate Geothermal Park & Mud Spa), Te Wairoa (The Buried Village), Lake Rotomahana, Waimangu Volcanic Valley, and the Waikite Valley Thermal Pools. The unique sulfurous scent that pervades the central-east ‘Te Ngae’ region is due to substantial sulfur deposits situated near the southern perimeter of the Government Gardens, in a location suitably designated ‘Sulphur Point’.

In recent years, Rotorua has garnered acclaim as a leading mountain bike destination. In 2015, the International Mountain Biking Association designated Rotorua as one of the Top 6 mountain biking locations worldwide, conferring upon it gold-level riding center accreditation. The Whakarewarewa forest, featuring more than 150 kilometers of mountain biking paths, has emerged as a hub for cycling aficionados. Rotorua’s reputation was further solidified when it hosted the UCI Mountain Bike and Trials World Championships in August 2006. Since 2015, the city has consistently served as a venue for the Crankworx World Tour, an annual event that draws premier mountain bike athletes from throughout the globe.