DISNEALAND’S NOT FAR

Press, 21 January 1984, Page 14

DISNEALAND’S NOT FAR

By

WHIM WHAM

On some current loose talk about a Disneyland kind of culture park development at Rotorua.

I heard a Voice from Rotorua — Let’s build a Disneyland, to lure The Tourists — meeting him at Whaka, The Seven Dwarfs will dance the Haka, Fairytale Castles fill his Dream With coloured Clouds of floodlit Steam, Cassettes of Maori Song and Annals, Carved Posts and Tukutuku Panels, All Disneyfied — the Immortal Walt Himself could hardly find a Fault — Mudpools enlarged, and tinted too, The prettiest Shades of Pink or Blue — Over the Lake, what Music floats? Tutanekai’s, his wild flute Notes — The Tourist’s Ear finds This rewarding, Of course, he knows it’s a Recording — Or will he pay the Charge exacted For Feats of Maui, re-enacted, Who fished the Land up, noosed the Sun, With other Deeds which, as related, Garbled perhaps - or expurgated — Given a Disneylandish Twist, No innocent Tourist could resist? . . .

I heard a Voice from Rotorua — Let’s build a Disneyland, to lure The Tourist — echoing back, I hear An answering Voice, it’s loud and clear From Hatfield’s Beach or Vogel House, Crying, “Think Big, think MICKEY MOUSE!”

Why travel to L.A. to see It? For Half the we can BE It!