What it is
Te Puia is the name used for the New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute together with the geothermal valley of Te Whakarewarewa. Paths lead past mud pools, silica terraces and geysers, above all Pōhutu, which erupts many times a day to heights of up to 30 metres.
The institute traces back to a school founded by Āpirana Ngata in 1926 to keep traditional Māori arts alive and was re-established by law in 1963. Its national schools of wood carving and weaving opened in 1967, and a third teaches stone, bone and pounamu carving; visitors can watch students at work. Rotowhio Marae stands on the same site.
Getting there by bus
Route 11 (Toi Ohomai - Te Puia - Rotorua CBD) links the city centre with the valley and stops at Te Puia Thermal Park (stop 3060), about 250 metres from the site, around a three-minute walk.
The same route also stops on Fenton Street at the stops Opposite BP Station (stop 3048) and Fronting No.406 (SH 30) (stop 3047), about 580 to 670 metres away, and route 12 serves the Toi Ohomai Mokoia Campus stops about 700 metres away.
