Te Arawa and local history
Our friendly Heritage and Research Team is available during library opening hours. Whether you want to learn more about Te Arawa, local landmarks, people, organisations, tīpuna, or something else, the team is here to support your research journey.
The library is proud to care for, and provide access to, a wealth of resources.
- The research notes of Don Stafford
- Rangikāheke Manuscripts
- Māori Land Court minute books
- Published works by local identities
Other research collections held on the Second Floor
In-depth research requests may incur charges so please discuss this with the staff or contact us and we will get in touch with you.
More about Te Arawa
Te Arawa is a prominent iwi (tribe) of the Bay of Plenty, descending from the crew of the Arawa canoe, which migrated from Polynesia to Aotearoa. Their ancestral territory stretches from Maketū on the coast to the Tongariro volcano, centred around the Rotorua lakes. Te Arawa are the principal mana whenua (people with customary authority over the land) in the Rotorua district and such hold a special place within our local history.