Te Wairoa, New Zealand facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Te Wairoa
Ghost town
Dwelling at Te Wairoa
Etymology: "the long stream" in Māori
Nickname(s):  Buried Village
Te Wairoa Location in North Island
Country	New Zealand
Region	Bay of Plenty
District	Rotorua
Founded by	Seymour Mills Spencer
Elevation	400 m (1,300 ft)
Population  (2018)
• Total	0

Te Wairoa was a village in New Zealand, located near Lake Tarawera and Rotorua. It was once a busy settlement. However, a huge volcanic eruption buried the village in ash.

Today, Te Wairoa is known as the Buried Village. It's a special place where you can visit the excavated ruins. You can also see old items found there in a museum. The village helps us understand what happened during the 1886 eruption of Mount Tarawera.

The name Te Wairoa means "the long stream" in the Māori language. It is about 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) south-east of Rotorua.

Discovering the Buried Village

The Buried Village is a popular spot for visitors. You can explore the remains of the old village. There's also a museum with many artifacts. These items tell the story of the people who lived there. They also show the power of the volcano.

History of Te Wairoa

Te Wairoa was founded around 1850. It was a home for both Māori and European settlers. Reverend Seymour Mills Spencer helped start the village. Many visitors stayed here on their way to see the famous Pink and White Terraces. These terraces were beautiful natural wonders.

Around 1865, the New Zealand Wars caused people to leave the village for a while. But by the 1870s, people returned. Before the eruption, Te Wairoa had two hotels. There were about 135 people living there permanently. Many more Māori visitors were in the village for a special gathering called a tangi.

A dwelling in Te Wairoa before the eruption.

The 1886 Mount Tarawera Eruption

On June 10, 1886, Mount Tarawera erupted with incredible force. Te Wairoa was only 13 km (8.1 mi) away. The villagers were among the closest people to witness this event.

The eruption began in the early hours of the morning. Around 1:30 a.m., a dark cloud of ash and vapor rose from the volcano. By 3:00 a.m., stones and ash started falling on Te Wairoa. The heavy ash caused roofs to collapse. The village was quickly covered.

Many people died in the eruption, especially in villages closer to the volcano. The meeting house named Hinemihi helped some villagers survive. It offered shelter from the falling ash. Later, this meeting house was moved to Clandon Park in England.

By dawn, around 7:15 a.m., survivors began to head towards Rotorua. Rescue teams met them and helped dig out those who were buried. The ash layer in Te Wairoa was about 0.86 m (2 ft 10 in) deep. Much of it fell as wet mud, making it even heavier.

The main eruption stopped on June 10th. However, steam and smaller eruptions continued for a while. The eruption changed the landscape forever. It destroyed the Pink and White Terraces and created new lakes and craters.

The Hinemihi Meeting House after the 1886 eruption.

Wairere Falls

The Wairoa Stream flows along the southern edge of the village. It creates the beautiful Wairere Falls. This stream connects Lake Rotokākahi (which is 394.9 m (1,296 ft) above sea level) to Lake Tarawera (which is 298 m (978 ft) above sea level).

Visitors to Te Wairoa can walk down a trail with steps to see the falls. It's a peaceful spot to enjoy nature.