MODEL MAORI VILLAGE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 49, Issue 66, 28 December 1928, Page 8

MODEL MAORI VILLAGE

TO BE BUILT AT ROTORUA. (Special to the "Guardian.") AUCKLAND, December 27. In pursuance of recommendations made by the Royal Commission which reported in 1926 upon the advisabdity of establishing model Native villages at Whakarewarewa and Ohinemutu, Rotorua, the Government has instructed Mr R. B. Hammond, until lately director of town planning, who was a member of the Commission, to prepare a scheme for a new village adjacent to the inhabited area at Whakarewarewa. The purpose is not to supersede the present village, but to lay out j. site upon which new houses of an approved type can be built. This will relieve the overcrowding that exists, and make easier the task of replacing a number of unsightly dwellings now used by Native families. The site was selected some time ago, and is referred to in the report. Mr Hammond will leave Auckland for Rotorua next week in order to discuss the scheme on the ground with the Native Minister. Sir Aparinal Ngata. The type of dwellings to be erected on the site in future is not in question at present, but will be dealt with later. It is taken for granted by all concerned that the characterless small cottages and huts which make up much of the existing village will have to give place ultimately to suitable houses, which, as the Commission stated, can be designed in conformity with essentials of Maori art and architecture. —. Since the Commission reported some minor improvements have been made at Whakarewarewa by demolishing certain of the more unsightly buildings as a temporary measure, until the remodelling scheme could be launched.