May 24, 2013
Ohinemutu Maori Village actually consists of a village square with historical sights surrounded by an average middle-class neighborhood inhabited mostly by people of Maori descent. It’s just on the outskirts of Rotorua, right on the lake. What’s most amazing about this area, aside from the historical sites, is that it’s right on top of geothermal activity. The houses sit among boiling pools and steaming vents–it’s one of the weirdest things we’ve ever seen. Many locals actually cook in the boiling springs on their property. (How they manage to raise children safely, I can’t imagine.)
We started with the buildings on the square, including the Tamatekapua meetinghouse and St. Faith’s church (finally something we can pronounce!). As we walked around, steam came out of vented manholes and the air smelled like sulfur. The ground was warm as we walked, and where bricks had cracked we could see water boiling underneath. The warm ground felt great on this rather cold day.
We ventured down a neighborhood street nearby, taking pictures of boiling pools of water and mud amongst the houses. It was a fantastic spot to visit, but I can’t imagine living there–it would be like living in a volcano. In fact I had to wonder: does anyone ever worry about this? I know they monitor thermal activity carefully, but nature is full of surprises, and I’d hate to be “surprised.”
The strange combination of Maori relics, steaming vents, suburban homes, and the smell of sulfur was yet another one of those bizarre combinations we’ve found in New Zealand. The air was still and cold, and there wasn’t a person in sight. The only movement was from the steam pouring out of the vents. It was eerie and felt a bit like the aftermath of an apocalypse.
After poking around the historical sights and walking around the neighborhood, we drove over to Kuirau Park, the city park of Rotorua. Now the steaming vents and boiling pools were amid grass and trees, all fenced off for safety. The park was pretty, but like the village, a bit quiet and eerie. –Cyndi
