Unwrapping an Icon – Episode 7: Stairway to Heaven… or should we say Tudor Towers?

Saturday, 18 October 2025

Episode 7 of Unwrapping an Icon is here, and it’s all about the legendary dual staircase at Rotorua Museum! Since 1908, thousands have climbed these iconic steps – from bath house days, through the Tudor Towers era, and into its life as a beloved museum and art gallery. After 120…

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Unwrapping an Icon – Episode 6: From Nightclub to National Treasure

Friday, 19 September 2025

Step Back in Time with Episode Six of Unwrapping an Icon! Ever danced the night away at Tudor Towers? Or grabbed a bite in the old restaurant? This latest episode takes you behind the scenes of the grand foyer and mezzanine – once home to the iconic Tudor Towers nightclub…

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Unwrapping an Icon – Episode 5: Back to Bas(ment)ics

Monday, 4 August 2025

Our whare is committed to their New Years gym goals, are you? Find out what we’re doing to beef up the foundations and get the building safe and strong for re-opening. With special guest, Dmytro and our favorite RLC Programme Manager, Will.

Unwrapping an Icon – Episode 4: It’s the outside that counts

Friday, 27 June 2025

Brb, just googling how to become a heritage architectural specifier 👩‍🎨 Turns out there’s a lot more to the world of heritage restoration!! Here’s a peak at what the Watts & Hughes team have been undertaking to get our Rotorua Museum looking beautiful for re-opening, plus keeping its status as…

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Unwrapping an Icon – Episode 3: The 100 Year Leak

Thursday, 5 June 2025

Rotorua Museum’s roof: older than your nana’s kettle and twice as leaky! Watch the latest Unwrapping an Icon: The Hundred Year Leak! Tune in for tales from the top and find out how this historic icon is getting a watertight future.

Unwrapping an Icon – Episode 2: Wrap and Scaff

Tuesday, 27 May 2025

You’ve seen it wrapped up like a giant present — now it’s time to meet the real stars holding it all together… the scaff and wrap! In this episode of Unwrapping an Icon, we’re lifting the veil (and the wrap) on the incredible network of scaffolding that’s making the Rotorua…

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Unwrapping an Icon – Episode 1: What’s this series about?

Thursday, 17 April 2025

It’s not a makeover, it’s a seismic strengthening glow-up Move over Netflix… there’s a new show in town. Introducing Unwrapping an Icon – the drama, the dust, the deep foundations 👷‍♀️ We’re going behind the scenes of the epic Rotorua Museum rebuild – hard hats, high hopes, and maybe a…

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Project Update – Infrastructure and Environment Committee Meeting (5 March 2025)

Wednesday, 5 March 2025

Hear from Will Bamford (Rotorua Museum Project Programme Manager) as he gives a build project report to Councillors. Topics covered: • 1/3 of the way through the build project (expected build project to conclude in September 2026) • Scaffolding inside the building to supports structure while being strengthened internally •…

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Iconic Museum stairs temporarily removed

The iconic Rotorua Museum dual staircases have been temporarily removed to allow for seismic strengthening of the floor and walls of the central hall. Local joinery company, Lee Brothers, have worked on several heritage projects over the years and will complete the removal, refurbishment and reinstallation of the grand stairs.…

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Tiles starting to be laid on North Wing roof

Monday, 3 March 2025

Following the completion of the strengthening roof works, the iconic terracotta orange Marseille roof tiles are being laid on the North wing! This follows the addition of strengthening structural ply to the roof frame and installation of a new ‘warm roofing system’ which adds to the robustness and longevity of…

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