A week of Rotorua Heritage Events
The fifth annual He Kete Rau Mahara | Local Heritage Week is a week-long event celebrating the rich heritage and culture of Rotorua.
Kicking off the week of events is ROTORUA HERITAGE DAY on Saturday 23 November where there will be storytelling, a vintage car display, classic games to play, author talks, an Amazing Race and iconic photos to be taken in our photobooth followed by a week of events held in multiple locations around Rotorua.
ROTORUA HERITAGE WEEK runs from Saturday 23 November - Sunday 1 December and includes events at the Government Gardens, Māori Land Court, St Faith's Anglican Church, The Arts Village, Whakarewarewa Village, Ngongotahā Rail, Rotorua Library and the Arts Village.
Find out what's going on in He Kete Rau Mahara | Rotorua Heritage Week 2024 programme.
Background
He Kete Rau Mahara is held during the week of the anniversary of the signing of the Fenton Agreement, 25 November 1880. The city-wide celebration was established by local historian, and previous Rotorua Lakes Council Research Lead & Senior Advisor, Ben Manley, in November 2020, with support from Rotorua Museum Te Whare Taonga o Te Arawa and Rotorua Library.
The library’s Heritage and Research Team took over its coordination in 2021. The COVID-19 pandemic meant the celebration went online that year, with seven online presentations, a children’s Facebook competition and children’s take-home craft activity.
Na tō rourou, nā taku rourou, ka ora ai te iwi
"By working together, we will all succeed"
In 2022 we extended the programme by inviting members of the community to host events alongside the Council. We welcomed the Rotorua and District Historical Society, the Māori Land Court, Rotorua Multicultural Council, and Rotorua Settlers and Steam Museum. Since then, individuals, organisations and community groups have collaborated to make He Kete Rau Mahara | Rotorua Heritage Week a successful event for everyone.