A right royal history
attention of the world and, with the world’s press in tow, the event was a significant stimulus for tourism.
He stopped at O¯ hinemutu during the visit to gift the bust of Queen Victoria to Ma¯ ori.
The donation was significant to Ma¯ ori as Queen Victoria was the crown signatory on Te Tiriti o Waitangi (the Treaty of Waitangi) signed in 1840.
The Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York, later King George V and Queen Mary, made the second trip to the bubbling city at the heart of the North Island.
They came to Rotorua in 1901, only 21 years after the signing of the Fenton Agreement, which established Rotorua as a city.
During the visit, the Duke was and the enclosing fence, sitting on the ground in the sun to get a glimpse of the royals. Following the presentation the royal couple drove to the Government Gardens where they unveiled the Arawa War Memorial. Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh have visited Rotorua on multiple occasions. The couple first came to the city in 1954 during their “honeymoon tour”. Thousands lined the streets of Rotorua to welcome their entourage as they travelled through to Moose Lodge, in Rotoiti, where they stayed for four nights. A large banner emblazoned with the words “haere mai” was hung on the outskirts of the city, nurses lined the base of Pukeroa Hill waving vigorously and along Tutanekei St people strained on tip-toes to get a better view. Rotorua district councillor Trevor Maxwell said he remembered running out from school in Ngongotaha¯ and waving his Union Jack. “A black car came along, we had a few quick waves and then she was gone.” The following day a crowd of 12,000 spectators and about 1400 performers descended on Arawa Park.