Te Wairoa, New Zealand facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Te Wairoa
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Dwelling at Te Wairoa
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| Etymology: "the long stream" in Māori | |
| Nickname(s):
Buried Village
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| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Bay of Plenty |
| District | Rotorua |
| Founded by | Seymour Mills Spencer |
| Elevation | 400 m (1,300 ft) |
| Population
(2018)
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| • Total | 0 |
Te Wairoa is a famous ghost town in New Zealand. It is also known as the Buried Village. This historic site is found near Lake Tarawera on New Zealand's North Island.
Te Wairoa started in 1848. It was a home for both Māori and European settlers. A man named Revd Seymour Mills Spencer helped create the village. Many visitors stayed here on their way to see the amazing Pink and White Terraces.
On June 10, 1886, a huge event changed Te Wairoa forever. The nearby volcano, Mount Tarawera, erupted. This powerful eruption destroyed the village. About 120 people lost their lives, many in other villages closer to the volcano. The eruption buried Te Wairoa under ash and mud.
The name "Te Wairoa" means "the long stream" in the Māori language.
The Buried Village Today
Today, the Buried Village is a special place you can visit. It shows the ruins of the old village. You can see buildings that were dug out from under the ash. There is also a museum with items found from the village. These items help tell the story of the eruption and the people who lived there.
The Buried Village is about 14 kilometers southeast of Rotorua. You can find it on Tarawera Road. It's a great place to learn about New Zealand's history.
Hinemihi: A Special Meeting House
A Māori meeting house called Hinemihi was in Te Wairoa. This building helped protect people during the volcano eruption. In 1892, Hinemihi was moved to Clandon Park in England. It became a garden building there. It was a souvenir for William Onslow, 4th Earl of Onslow.
Wairere Falls
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The Te Wairoa Stream flows along the southern edge of the village. This stream creates the beautiful Wairere Falls. The stream connects Lake Rotokākahi (which is 394 m (1,293 ft) high) with Lake Tarawera (which is 298 m (978 ft) high). Visitors to the Buried Village can walk down a path with steps to see the falls. The upper part of the falls drops almost 30 m (98 ft).
