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.
