Milestones

Press, 24 August 1976, Page 24

Milestones

Rotorua today is a far cry from the Rotorua of 75 years ago when the then Department of Tourist and Health Resorts began development of the famous thermal region, in 1901 the department started Rotorua’s electricity supply and in 1907 assumed direct control of the township, becoming responsible for the water supply, drainage, buildings, and electricity. A resident balneologist was appointed to promote the therapeutic value of the

mineral waters, and in 1903, the Department began building the model Maori Pa.

■ The Australian group, the Seekers, is to work in conjunction with TransTours to promote throughout Australia, holidays in New Zealand.

Yesterday was the closing date for applications in the Tourism Design Awards. The awards were initiated last year by the Tourist and Publicity Department in an effort to promote high standards of design for tourist facilities. Last year’s awards were gained by Travelodge and the A-Line Lodge

Motel, Queenstown; the Rotary Garden Court, Wellington; the Town Hall, Christchurch; historic Alberton, Auckland; and the Kingston Flyer.

Photography was one of the earliest specialities of the Tourist and Publicity Department. In 1903 the department claimed that it had one of the “finest selections of photographic negatives in New Zealand. Two thousand eight hundred of these pictures have been circulated within and outside the colony during the year, and it is hoped to make photography one of the leading methods of advertising New Zealand.”