Nostalgic Rotorua

28/08/2026

1967 the cement terrace that was next to the CIvic Theatre on Arawa St. Who remembers this ??

Title Rotorua Publicity Caption Arawa Street, Rotorua. Photographer Mr. R. Anderson.

26/08/2026

1966 - From the Arches looking up Arawa St.
The low skyline of the buildings make everything feel so close.

Title Rotorua Publicity Caption Arawa Street, Rotorua. Photographer Mr. R. Anderson.

26/08/2026

Here is an update from the Save our Rotorua Arches page. The silence doesn't mean it's over .
Read the post, please share it and join the page to keep up with whats happening.

🏛️ SAVE OUR ROTORUA ARCHES — AN UPDATE ❤️

We know many of you have been asking, “What’s happening with our arches?” and whether we’ve heard anything from Rotorua Lakes Council.

So here’s where things currently stand.

I spoke with our local builder Alex Wills today, and he also hasn’t heard back from Council yet. We were told that Council would be in touch with both Alex and myself once they had received the further structural engineering report — so at this stage, we are still waiting.

But there is some really positive news.

Alex has secured a suitable site that is large enough to undertake the restoration/rebuild of the arches. If Council decides that reconstruction is the way forward, Alex will put this information forward to Council.

This could be a fantastic local resource and potentially help make the rebuild more practical and more affordable, while also giving us the opportunity to keep the spirit and character of our historic arches alive. ❤️

AND THIS IS IMPORTANT…

I have gone back through the latest information published by Rotorua Lakes Council.

No final decision has been made about the future of the arches.

Council has confirmed that options being considered include reconstruction, alternative materials and potentially a new arch concept. They have also said that heritage values, costs, safety and long-term sustainability will all be considered — and importantly, the community is to have input before a final decision is made. (Rotorua Lakes Council⁠)

Council has also confirmed that if deconstruction is required, the intention is to carefully take the arches down in sections rather than simply demolishing them, with the components retained and stored while the future options are assessed. (Rotorua Lakes Council⁠)

So NO — this campaign is not over.

There is still a pathway to seeing our beloved Prince’s Gate Arches restored or reconstructed.

The next important step is the further engineering/heritage assessment and Council’s consideration of the options.

And we will keep pushing for the option that protects the heritage, character and history of this incredibly special Rotorua landmark.

For now, things may appear quiet — but quiet does not mean forgotten.

We are still here.
We are still watching.
And we are still fighting to SAVE OUR ROTORUA ARCHES. 🏛️❤️

As soon as I hear anything further from Council, you will all be the first to know.

Thank you to everyone who continues to support this campaign, share our posts and speak up for our arches.

Our voices matter. And this story is not over yet. ❤️

24/08/2026

In the 80s - scenes like this seem to make life feel alot simpler…

Photography Brian Holden.

23/08/2026

1980s Fenton St - what Oppies Fish n Shop is today.

Typical cigarette advertising on display, makes you feel that the only concern that day would be hanging with mates, maybe driving out to the lakes for a swim and getting home in time for Radio With Pictures and the Sunday Night Horrors that night - or worse doing your washing for school or work that week.

Photography Brian Holden.

21/08/2026

Late 1960s - The Blue Baths- Heritage Listed Catgory 1

Opened in stages from between 1932 and 1935.
Closed in 1982 - Ive read that there had been informal discussion about demolition of the Blue Baths in the late 80s, as it was decaying. In 1992 after local push and historians getting into the mix, it was granted Category 1 status under Heritage New Zealand, legally protecting it from demolition.
1999 - reopened as an events centre with the small pool.
2021 - Abruptly closed after a Detailed Seismic Assessment revealed the building met only 15% of the New Building Standard (NBS).
The building has fantastic potential, I just wonder if the council will ever address repair/restore or neglect it till it's too late to save.


Photograph Rotorua Photo News.

18/08/2026

Circa 1973- Township photo. The Post Office was built ( 1971) and The building that had Woolworths which was a walk through from Tutanekai to Eruera wasn't built yet, and Geyser Court was already open.
Its amazing what was demolished and built over in the ever changing city.

Photography Brian Holden.

17/08/2026

Early 1970s - Find your home… :-)
The vacant land blocks are between- Sala St and Maida Vale St - I am guessing the date as early 1970s as the DB Hotel looks under construction ( which was circa 1972)

Photography Brian Holden Archive

16/08/2026

1960 - Tutanekai St - from the corner of Eruera St looking towards the lake.

Its so hard to imagine how the street could look so wide. The Post Office wasnt built, and the original building still stands.

Photo Gladys Goodall.
Nostalgic Rotorua Archive

16/08/2026

1980s -The Lakehouse. Live bands in the public bar, and even some karaoke…. miss this place, it was rough but there was always family there.
One time, me and some mates went there and played Karaoke Roulette in the arfternoon… you choose a name from the hat, and then choose the song they had to sing. Some people are good at Karaoke, they have that go to song they always sing. This evens the playing field. So one mate had to sing Aretha Franklins Natural Woman, we all literally fell about laughing so hard. He never played it again. Bwahahahaa.

This was a great pub, and also provided a venue for bands to play.

Photography Brian Holden.