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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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Looking Back – The inspiration behind the Bath House building
Monday, 16 December 2024
As the strengthening and redevelopment of Rotorua Museum Te Whare Taonga o Te Arawa strides along, we thought we would take a little look back on why the Bath House building (home to Rotorua Museum) looks like it does! In 1901 responsibility for the spa, and the administration of the…
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Hidden Treasures – Music from the past
As the Museum project team are about to head into a well-earned break over summer, we just wanted to share some of the cool discoveries they have made while construction has been taking place this year. This record, entitled Kia Hiwa Ra!, was recorded live at Tudor Towers and performed…
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Souvenir ware plate ‘Eruption of the White Terrace’
Wednesday, 25 August 2021
The Rotorua Museum has what we think is the biggest collection of souvenir ware in museums in New Zealand. Most of the pieces were made in the 1900s and have scenes like the Bath House, Sanatorium, Prince’s Gate, Ohinemutu, or Whakarewarewa. This plate is unusual in that is shows an…
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Learn Your Name In Morse Code Day
Monday, 11 January 2021
.-. — – — .-. ..- .- — ..- … . ..- — (Rotorua Museum) Ever thought about what it might be like to convey important information to someone in another town, city or country without your computer, tablet, phone, or mobile phone? Back in the days of the Tarawera…
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International Day of Peace, 21 September 2020
Monday, 21 September 2020
The International Day of Peace was established in 1981 by the United Nations General Assembly. “This year, it has been clearer than ever that we are not each other’s enemies. Rather, our common enemy is a tireless virus that threatens our health, security and very way of life. COVID-19 has thrown…
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Bath Removal Stage Two – Heritage baths safely in storage
Wednesday, 12 August 2020
One lone bather remained in the Bath House building after Rotorua Museum closed in 2016 for earthquake strengthening and redevelopment. This slightly shocked gentleman, together with heritage baths and several other original bathing features, has recently been moved into storage from the Mudbath Basement to prepare for the foundation works…
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One woman’s legacy – the amazing Norma Evans Clothing Collection
Monday, 8 June 2020
The Norma and Bob Evans Family Clothing Collection spans a period from about 1910 to the 1980s and consists of about 2000 items. It is a rich resource for researchers into the social history and technology behind clothes and clothing in the 20th century. The collection includes clothes that had…
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Somerset Playne, adventurer and author
Tuesday, 12 May 2020
Going through the archives researching the early years of the Rotorua Museum, I came across an offer of a number of “stuffed and mounted heads” for the collection. It was 1942 and the offer came from Somerset Playne; the offer was turned down due to space. The list of animals…
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Govt Gardens, Rotorua
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Rotorua Museum is currently closed for earthquake strengthening and redevelopment.
