Maori culture inspires upcoming New Zealand bathing destination, Wai Ariki Hot Springs and Spa
– Karen Golden
After five years of planning, geotechnical preparation, COVID challenges and construction, Wai Ariki Hot Springs and Spa in Rotorua – the New Zealand city famous for its geothermal activity – is edging closer to completion.
Set to open in mid-2023, the 4,453sq m spa and wellness centre is grounded in te ao Maori(the Maori worldview). It will be infused with native culture throughout, including the physical design of the building, the wellness experiences and authentic manaakitanga (the concept of care and hospitality).
Wai Ariki means ‘chiefly waters’, and is a reminder of the origin of Rotorua’s thermal waters. The site is located on the shores of Rotorua’s lakefront and is being developed by Pukeroa Oruawhata Group (POG), the development arm of the local hapū (tribe) Ngāti Whakaue.
The facility will form just one element of the wider health and wellness vision for the group’s 11-hectare site and be managed by Australian-based contract management firm Belgravia Leisure.
“Wai Ariki’s unique features combine with therapeutic mineral waters to deliver a world-class sanctuary that provides a place to relax, sustain and heal,” says Karen Golden, Belgravia general manager of destination, wellness and spa.
“The way that culture has been incorporated throughout the concept, design and product offering, combined with its location and people, provides a level of authenticity which we believe makes it unlike anything else in the world.”
POG deputy chair David Tapsell says Ngati Whakaue and Maori culture will sit at the heart of the property, with the 650-year history of the tribe and Rotorua’s spa heritage forming an intrinsic part of the development.
“Wai Ariki is set to firmly position Rotorua in the global wellness and spa market,” Tapsell says.
Spa facilities
The site will have two main spa areas: Te Puna Kaukau Koruhuhū and Te Ahuru Mōwai l The Sanctuary – a space for bathing and spa treatments. There's also a café and gift shop.
Within Te Puna Kaukau Koruhuhū, manuhiri (guests) will experience Haumanu Haerenga, a restorative journey made up of a series of hot and cold experiences designed to maximise therapeutic benefit.
The journey includes a herb pool – which combines mineral water with the aromatherapy properties of native plants to support calmness and relaxation; a mud experience; and a cool frigidarium.
A sense of placeThe Wai Ariki brand speaks to the cultural narrative of Ngātoroirangi – a great ariki (chief) and tohunga (priest).
Caught in a blizzard climbing Mount Tongariro, Ngātoroirangi called for help from his sisters, Te Pupu and Te Hoata, to bring precious ahi (fire). It’s said the places the subterranean goddesses of fire dropped embers are where the region’s hot pools and other volcanic and geothermal phenomena can be seen today.
“Every part of this spa provides a connection to the Ngāti Whakaue people and places that have come to define us through time,” says Tapsell. “In particular, the hot and cold experiences – while delivering proven therapeutic benefits – draw on the story of our ancestor, Ngātoroirangi."
He concludes: “This is a defining history for Ngāti Whakaue and this legacy is present throughout Wai Ariki and its wellness experiences. This is part of what makes it truly unique – not just in New Zealand, but in the world."
Wai Ariki Hot Springs and Spa Maiori Karen Golden Belgravia Leisure Pukeroa Oruawhata Group hot springs
BIG unveils Eve Music Hall as Croatia venue nears completion
Bob Rogers hands BRC to long-serving leadership team
Wellness care hospital opens in Vilnius with innovative spa and hospitality concept
Universal and Puy du Fou projects point to rise of Oxford–Cambridge corridor
A proposed Puy du Fou development near Bicester and Universal Destinations and Experiences’ planned resort in Bedford are emerging as part of a wider transformation of the Oxford–Cambridge Growth Corridor into a major centre for UK leisure and tourism investment.
For years, the corridor has been associated primarily with science, technology, housing and university-led economic growth. However, the clustering of large-scale visitor attraction projects along the
All-inclusive eco-wellness development Auko to open near Vietnam’s Son Doong caves
Shedd Aquarium upgrades its visitor experience with new Immersion Theater
Shedd Aquarium has opened the Immersion Theater developed in partnership with SimEx-Iwerks, as part of a wider strategy to enhance the guest experience and create additional revenue opportunities.
The attraction has transformed the aquarium’s Phelps Auditorium into a multi-sensory venue combining panoramic projection, environmental effects and interactive technology.
A new pre-show area allows visitors to engage with augmented reality marine animals before entering the
Mandarin Oriental announces standalone Mansions-branded residences for Abu Dhabi
MCR is planning a luxury hotel for London's BT Tower
Joy as a radical act: Yinka Ilori launches solo exhibition celebrating the rebellious power of spreading happiness
Work gets underway on Madrid's €800 million leisure complex
Work is underway in Madrid on one of Europe’s most significant multi-functional complexes, combining sport, entertainment, culture and education.
The €800 million initiative to regenerate the former Olympic Aquatic Centre in the north-east of the city, next to the Riyadh Air Metropolitano stadium, is being led by Barsento – a joint venture between Live Nation Entertainment, Oak View Group and Atlético de Madrid. The project will
Therme Manchester reveals 90:90 strategy – 90 per cent of the UK population within a 90-minute drive of a Therme
Four Seasons’ Naples Beach Club opens 2,800sq m Sanctuary spa inspired by indigenous Calusa people
Orient Express Corinthian to host Ocean Rebirth wellness retreat in collaboration with Guerlain
Famed London nightclub, Tramp, launches Tramp Health
First look: Miraval opens on the Red Sea in Saudi Arabia
Hainan Science Museum by Ma Yansong, opens in China
A new science museum has opened to the public in Haikou after attracting more than 350,000 visitors during a four-month soft opening period.
Designed by Ma Yansong and his practice MAD Architects, the Hainan Science Museum is located on the edge of Wuyuan River National Wetland Park and has already recorded peak attendance of more than 5,800 visitors in a single day.
Commissioned by
Zannier Île De Bendor launches with design by Hardel Le Bihan Architectes
Sæl Spa readies for launch in London: “a modern British sanctuary”
Immersive art bathhouse Submersive announces debut location in Austin
Construction begins on regenerative wellness destination The Shenandoah Nature Resort
Royal Caribbean reveals record-breaking cruise ship
V&A East opens in London
David Geffen galleries open at LACMA
New venue The Lands by Capella includes a longevity centre to complement sister hotel Capella Sydney
World of Frozen launches at Disneyland Paris
Pical Resort by Valamar reveals first Croatian spa under the ESPA brand
Mandarin Oriental creates end-to-end Egyptian journey with two new hotels and first-ever luxury river cruise
Designers Mendil + Meyer launch new division called Lām Concepts for strategic wellness projects
Wilderness Bisate in Rwanda reveals brand’s second Sanctuary spa
4a Architekten shares details of wellness extension at Salinarium Bad Dürkheim Thermal Spa
