IMPROVEMENTS AT ROTORUA.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 215, 11 September 1929, Page 6

IMPROVEMENTS AT ROTORUA.

The Government is doing well by Rotorua, but not going further than needs -warrant. The late Government allowed the bath houses at the most remarkable tourist asset in New Zealand to fall into decay, but the present Ministry is putting in hand an important programme of improvements. Now, according to an interesting statement by the Native Minister, the native village at Whakarewarewa is to be re-modelled, and great pains are to be taken to obtain a house design that will embody old and new ideas. This is the difficulty in any such construction. The Maoris are an important part of the attractions of Rotorua, and the visitor naturally does not wish to see a community wearing plus fours and living in what is called a pretty, bungalow. It would be impossible, however, to set back the clock in every respect and present a community in all the conditions of the pre-pakeha days. A compromise must be arrived at, and Sir Apirana Ngata may be trusted to see that the final plan does not err on either side. As he says, porcelain baths are hardly necessary, but native thatch would not please the insurance companies. It is also satisfactory to read that the Minister hopes to re-model the so-called model pa. As has been pointed out in these columns, this pa is not faithful to the past. If Maori history is to be used to attract and entertain the tourist it should be accurate.