Sunday 25th February 2007. Rotorua to National Park.

Constant drifts of steam and the distinctive smell of sulphur let you know you are in Rotorua, the thermal heartland of the volcanic North Island. Built atop a steaming underground cauldron that is caused by a break between the Indo-Pacific and the Australasian plates, boiling water hurtles through the ground and hisses into geysers that plume like tall fountains. Boiling mud plops like angry porridge and wispy steam puffs and curls from vents on front lawns, through curbside gratings and across roads making you feel like you are travelling through low-flying cloud.

The Te Arawa tribe settled this region some 600 years ago, but it wasn't until 1835 that missionaries took up residence.


Morning worship this morning with Judy and Maureen at St Faith’s Anglican Church in Rotorua. This stunning Maori church is a true blending of Maori and Christian iconography. The service was also a cultural blending being conducted as it was in both Maori and English. At this 9am service we also got to attend a little girl’s christening which again was conducted in both languages.

This church has a wonderful vibrancy. I loved the service it was one of the most spiritual I have ever attended where you genuinely felt God’s love moving amongst the congregation; particularly during communion. I would not have missed this for the world. It was so wonderfully New Zealand, a very successful blending of both cultures.

The sanctuary window is a masterpiece of Jesus walking on the lake outside. Jesus does literally walk on water here and this amazing window was given to the church in memory of Thomas Chapman (priest) and his wife who were both early missionaries to the Te Arawa people.

St Faith’s of Ohinemutu was the beginning of the church in Rotorua through the influence of the missionaries at the Bay of Islands. The first Christian service held at Ohinemutu was conducted by the Rev. Henry Williams assisted by the said Thomas Chapman.

The first St Faith’s was built in 1885 but it was moved in 1910 to make way for a new larger church that blended the cultures being ornamented with Maori art and having a tudor style exterior reminiscent of Mother England. The new St Faith’s was dedicated in 1914 and consecrated in 1918.

The Galilee Chapel window that features the figure of Christ walking on Lake Rotorua was added when the church was re-dedicated in 1967.

On the Marae here we visit a Maori craft centre after the service and I bought a Hei Matau (or fish hook pendent) that symbolises prosperity and abundance and safe travel over water.

After walking into town I had lunch with Judy and Corinna at Lime before we head off on the bus to our next destination at National Park.

Here we are in Tongariro National Park, the first in New Zealand and the fourth national park that was ever established in the world. We are checked into National Park Backpackers and then tonight we dine as a group at the National Park Hotel before Paul and I head over to the Schnapps Bar for a night cap.