Science and myth mix at Rotorua village

Whakarewarewa Village's Paora Tapsell inside the GNS Science information site that explains the science behind the village's geothermal history. Photo / Ben Fraser

Two very different worlds of mythology and science have come together at Rotorua's Whakarewarewa Village.

In a recent move Crown-owned Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences (GNS) and the village have set up Te Matapuna o Papatuanuku - Whakarewarewa Earth Science Facility - in an effort to boost the profile of GNS while educating residents and visitors.

The site offers visitors two versions of how Whakarewarewa's geothermal features came to be - the mythological Maori version and the scientific version - all in one building within the village.

GNS Maori Strategy general manager Rawiri Faulkner said one of the major challenges faced by the organisation was raising its public awareness about what it does.

"There was an opportunity to have a permanent presence in the village, this came about because we have had a long relationship with the village and Te Puia as we were doing work there anyway."

He said the idea was to connect with people living in the village and the tourist community to show them some examples of what GNS did and to make people aware of the village's geothermal features.

"It's an outreach facility that allows us to show the public what we do and gage their interest," Mr Faulkner said.

"As a scientific organisation we need to be prepared to think outside the square and this is one of the ways to raise our profile and educate people at the same time."

Mr Faulkner said he expected displays at the site would be changed regularly.

"If there's one person who sees it and thinks they want to do this sort of thing then I believe it would have been a success," he said.

The facility has already been incorporated into the village's tours and is educating both the village's guides and its visitors.

Whakarewarewa Village human resources manager Paora Tapsell said visitors often asked guides about the village's geothermal history and features, and up until now they could not give a satisfactory answer.

"Our guides can tell the Maori version of how our geothermal features came about and now we have the scientific point of view as well. This has given us a clearer picture of what we are living and working with."

The facility also offers visitors an historical trip around the region in a DVD featuring late Rotorua historian Don Stafford and displays of rocks and minerals found in the area. Displays also describe how the village's geothermal features operate.

Mr Tapsell said since GNS had set up in the village, staff were getting to see another side of where they lived and worked.