Collections on the Second Floor
Rotorua Library is privileged to hold, protect and provide access to several Heritage Collections which tell the story of Te Arawa and Rotorua.
The Heritage Collections are on Paparua, the Second Floor of Te Aka Mauri, surrounded by the symbolism of Ngā Mātā Waka which represents the voyage of the Te Arawa waka from Hawaiiki to Maketu.
The Heritage Collections
- Our reference collection of published books on Te Arawa, Rotorua, Māori and New Zealand history and culture.
- Research notes on local history compiled by Don Stafford
- Te Arawa notes compiled by Don Stafford
- Te Rangikaheke manuscripts
- Ashley Cody's geological books, reports, surveys and maps
- Maori Land Court Minute Books: an incomplete set of local and regional minute books.
Heritage and Research staff will be happy to assist you in using these resources.
A bilingual map of the Don Stafford Room highlighting its various collections is now available for patrons to enable everyone to locate resources independently.
Other Collections
These collections are also available on Paparua, the Second Floor.
- Local Newspapers. (Accessible on microfiche or microfilm)
- Local & Regional Council Publications
- Electoral Rolls
- Family History Collection - some items are available to lend, others are reference only.
Community Archive
Rotorua Library houses a small community archive collection of primary sources for Rotorua District history. The collection includes records of local and community organisations, clubs and businesses, as well as the papers of individuals, where these records are of continuing value to the community.
Our objective is to provide safe storage of these unique materials and to make them accessible to the public.
For more information or to access the archives please make an appointment with the staff at the Heritage Information Desk or phone 07 351 7047 or email library@rotorualc.nz
Pakiaka - Rotorua Heritage ONLINE
Introducing our new online heritage website, Pakiaka where you can easily access items from the library's heritage collections. This includes images, publications, maps and audio-visual content that tell the rich history of Rotorua.
You can also upload your own material relating to Rotorua people, places and events via Pakiaka. Visit this page to learn more.