Shooting as high as 30 metres is the Pohutu Geyser, one of a number found around the Rotorua region.  Fueled by the continuing volcanic activity beneath the earth's surface, the Pohutu Geyser erupts up to twenty times a day or more and has been an attraction for tourists since the early 1900s.

      Lasting between 1 and 3 minutes, the Pohutu Geyser erupts once or twice each hour.

      The sign at left reads (verbatim):

PRINCE OF WALES

FEATHER GEYSER

The Prince of Wales Feather Geyser when in full eruption is similar in shape to the feathers that appear on the Prince of Wales coat of Arms.  This geyser was given this name after Prince of Wales Edward Albert visited here in the 1900's.

This geyser is also known as the Indicator Geyser as it let's you know

Height: 3-7 metres high

Frequency: 90-95% of the day

Duration of eruption: almost constant all day

      The Kiwi Vista postcards I have seen of the boiling mud pool are much more impressive than what we saw in real life, but the experience was still fascinating.

      The thick soup of mud found here perpetually boils.  It is caused by underground thermal activity.

      The sign at right reads as follows (verbatim):

NGAMOKAIAKOKO

MUD POOL

This pool has been named to reflect the playful nature of tamaiti mokopuna (children) resident here at one time, affectionately referred to as Ngamokaiakoko.  Koko was a noted Tipuna (ancestor) who it is said often - encouraged playful activities amongst the children.

      I would often get confused as to where authentic and updated might intersect.  Inside the Te Aronui a Rua Meeting House (shown at left), nicely arranged plastic chairs with metal legs over carpeting appeared to be a lot more recent than the pioneering Maori would have enjoyed originally.

      In front of the Te Aronui a Rua Meeting House is an area called Rotowhio Marae.  The sign at left describes this area as follows (verbatim):

ROTOWHIO MARAE

The Marae: Gathering place of forecourt directly in front of the meeting house, upon which all - informal ceremonies or occasions are conducted.

This early site takes its name from Rotowhio (Lake of Whistling Duck) and features the magnificent Meeting House called Te-Aronui-a-Rui.

      Structures such as the one shown above and at right were built in stilts and used to store items such as food and supplies.  Community food and supplies would be stored in the larger structure while a single family would use a smaller one.  The stilts help keep the items dry and provided a little security from some types of animals.

      A Maori carving stands above as if guarding the perimeter.  The Maori would purposely distort human features rather than insult their God for trying to imitate the perfection of the true human form.

      Above and at left are authentic Maori homes.  These do not shelter the conveniences of plastic chairs much less even plumbing or other utilities.  The floors are of dirt.  The shorter one shown on the right of the photograph above is actually built partially underground.  That allowed the inhabitants to enjoy the warmth of the earth around them.

      The Maori canoe shown at right was just outside the fence of the Maori village.