WHAKAREWAREWA

                             Rotarura, New Zealand

     Whakarewarewa is a mouth full and I don’t even try to pronounce it. Locals call it Whaka, which is pronounced Faka , as in the Maori language wh is pronounced like an f.

     Whaka, located in Rotarura, is one of the most accessible thermal areas in New Zealand. From my hotel room the steam rising from the vents, beyond the  fence, gave  a very mystical feeling to the area. The village gives one an extensive insight into Maori culture, which has fascinated me ever since I lived so many years in Hawaii.

     The earth bubbles, boils and spits everywhere, and the air is  pungent with a hydrogen sulfide aroma. The Maori cook in a natural steam oven called a hangi. Strategically placed, the Maori never worry about building a fire because they have steam twenty-four hours a day. Vegetables are wrapped in cloth then covered in burlap and securely tied before being submerged to cook in boiling pools.

     Pipes lead from the cooking pool down to large communal bathtubs. The clear water flows by gravity to the lower tubs, The pools are filled each morning so that by evening the water is cool enough for bathing. The tubs are drained each evening then scrubbed and cleaned.

     The geyser, Pohutu, meaning ‘big splash’ shoots 80-feet into the air several times a day. I was lucky to see Pohutu show off with a spectacular display.

     The cemetery of this village was above ground because one finds himself  in hot water if he digs very deep into the ground.

      We saw several ti trees in the village and learned that the wood has been used for many years for medicinal purposes, for a dye, and for durable fence posts. Authentic Maori woodcarvings have only three fingers on the hands as the Maori believe only in birth, fertility, and death.

     Rotarura is a lovely little city and Whaka is a fascinating  and interesting place to visit. The Maori are friendly and love to teach about their culture.