Rotorua Celebrates City Status

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30041, 28 January 1963, Page 8

Rotorua Celebrates City Status

(N.Z. Press Association) ROTORUA, Jan. 27. In a week-end of ceremony, spectacle, and entertainment enjoyed by the crowds of citizens and visitors Rotorua was officially proclaimed New Zealand’s seventeenth city by its Mayor (Mr A. M. Linton).

Mr Linton made the proclamation on Saturday at a special ceremony on the lakefront attended by the Minister of Internal Affairs <MrGotz).Mr Watt Mclntyre, deputy-Mayor of Klamath Falls, Oregon. Rotorua's sister-city. Rotorua became a city on April 27 last year—79 years

after the Rotorua board of management held its first meeting But the council decided to hold city status celebrations this year, from January 26 to February 2. The population of the city is now more than 21.000. Mr Gotz told the crowd of 5000 at the proclamation ceremony that no town in New Zealand had increased at a faster rate. Since 1926 the area of the city had increased 50 per cent., but the population has risen 700 per cent. “Rotorua used to be known as a tourist and a Government town but now private enterprise is taking the lead, in the establishment of business and industry, and where sufficient finance is available, land development,” he said. The proclamation ceremony wa« preceded by a pageant depicting the history of Rotorua. It was produced by Mrs Constance Haggert, a

Rotorua' theatrical producer. Among those taking part was Miss Maureen King!, the present “Miss New Zealand.” After the proclamation ceremony, the freedom of the city was granted the Hauraki Regiment

The charter of the freedom of the city was accepted from Mr Linton by Colonel R. F. Smith, of Rotorua, the regiment's honorary colonel. A charter guard paraded under the command of the regiment's commanding officer, Lieutenant-Colonel D. P. C. Walls, of Auckland. The regiment had its beginnings in the establishment of the Opotiki Rangers Rifle Volunteers in 1887. Saturday began with a magnificent cavalcade of Maoridom which included the re-enactment at Lake Rotorua of the landing of the canoes of the Great Migration in 1350 at Maketu. Twenty-one members of the Arawa tribe

paddled four canoes from Ohinemutu to the lakefront.

Later 25 floats, showing the story of the Maori people through the ages, wound through city streets watched by many thousands.

The final float showed the integration of the two races. Dressed as bride and groom were Miss Kingi’s parents. Mr and Mrs I. Kingi. Mr Kingj is a Maori and Mrs King) a pakeha

At night a fireworks display and a concert were held.

Today the Archbishop of New Zealand (the Most Rev N A. Lesser) preached at a thanksgiving service. A pageant of flowers was held in the Government gardens in the afternoon and tonight there was a religious outdoor pageant. The celebrations will continue during the week. There will be an old settlers’ day, a historical exhibition and special entertainment.