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Museum Project – Hear from the architects about why they were keen to be involved in this project
Sunday, 18 November 2018
Today marks two years since the closure of the Rotorua Museum doors following the Kaikoura earthquake. Architects, Matt and Bernard, who’ve been appointed to help with restoring the Museum’s heritage Bath Housing building, tell us why they wanted to be involved. You can find out what’s happened over the past…
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Project managers appointed for Museum and SHMPAC
Friday, 2 November 2018
Project managers appointed for Rotorua Museum and the Sir Howard Morrison Performing Arts Centre. With the construction phase due to get underway next year for both Rotorua Museum and the Sir Howard Morrison Performing Arts Centre, project managers have now been appointed for the seismic strengthening and redevelopment of these key…
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Lynn Gillespie
Monday, 29 October 2018
Meet Lynn Gillespie,a retired teacher, who has joined our team of enthusiastic ‘Outside the Walls’ Walking Tour guides. While the closure of the Bath House has dealt a huge blow to Rotorua, I can see a positive; the ‘Outside the Walls’ tours give visitors and locals an opportunity they wouldn’t…
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A rich history of Royal visitors to Rotorua
Tuesday, 23 October 2018
Rotorua has a long history of putting on a good spread and a good show for members of the royal family. Rotorua has warmly welcomed the following royal family members: 1870 The Duke of Edinburgh 1901 The Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York (later King George V and Queen…
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Rotorua Museum prepares for construction phase with removal of taonga into safe storage
Thursday, 18 October 2018
In readiness for the construction phase of Rotorua Museum, due to get underway mid next year, the remaining 25 taonga (treasures) have been safely removed from the Bath House building into specialised storage facilities. These artefacts were located in the newer southern end of the Museum, the Don Stafford Wing,…
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Neila Blackmore
Friday, 28 September 2018
Meet Neila Blackmore, one of our enthusiastic new Outside the Walls Walking Tour guides. Before undertaking her guide training, Neila thought she knew all about the Government Gardens. From her home in Pūkaki St, and her parents restaurant, The Empire, the gardens were Neila’s playground. Here is her story. Although…
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Architect appointed for restoration and development of Rotorua Museum
Thursday, 27 September 2018
DPA Architects, with previous experience refurbishing Rotorua Museum, has been appointed to carry out the design work for the restoration of the heritage Bath House building, with help from local firm, Carling Architects. Rotorua Lakes Council’s Arts and Culture manager, Stewart Brown, says restoration work is due to get…
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Souvenir ware plate ‘Eruption of the White Terrace’
Wednesday, 11 July 2018
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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Centennial Trust presents $200k towards Museum strengthening
Wednesday, 4 July 2018
Rotorua Museum Centennial Trust presented $200,000 to Rotorua Lakes Council towards the seismic strengthening of Rotorua Museum. The contribution was presented to the Council during last week’s (Thursday 28 June) Full Council meeting by Rotorua Museum Centennial Trust Chairman, Lyall Thurston. He says the decision to make the donation was…
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The mystery of the Tarawera cats
Friday, 8 June 2018
Many people will remember the dried remains of a cat which had been displayed in Rotorua Museum in recent years. In fact it has been described as one of the museum’s most popular exhibits. Here is the story of the three Tarawera cats that were included in the Tarawera eruption…