Overlooking the Rotorua Museum on the lake’s edge in North Island, New Zealand are the beautiful Government Gardens (Paepaekumanu). This site was a gift to the British Crown by the local Ngati Whakaue tribe and stands today as a symbol for both the Maori and English culture. Today, the Museum, Blue Baths, Klamath Falls Rose Gardens, Te Runanga Tea Pavillion and Band Rotunda located in the gardens are the heritage tourist attractions to visit while in Rotorua, New Zealand.
Initially known as Paepaekumanu, the Government Gardens in North Island, New Zealand is a public space nearby Lake Rotorua, rich in history and heritage. In earlier times this area was under the Maori tribe’s control where many battles were fought, thereby making it a place of historical significance today. It was in the late 1800s that the Ngati Whakaue tribe gave the land where the present gardens sit, as a gift to the Crown.
The geothermal areas in the Government Gardens along with the Arawa Soldiers Memorial are some of the major highlights of the gardens. A significant point to be noted here is that the Gardens have been categorised as a Historic Area and several of its buildings and structures as Heritage points.
The Museum remains closed at present because of restoration work carried out for earthquake strengthening and is due to reopen in 2021.
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