1960: Toot and Whistle

March 27, 2025

By AHNZ

Rotorua history: The Toot ‘n’ Whistle miniature train was built by John Smale, who started it in 1958. It was opened to the public to ride in 1960. In 2004 the operator had to abandon it because Kuirau Park was becoming dangerous due to geothermal activity.

Government’s fault, as per usual. “Once the local council enacted regulations about the use of domestic bores in the area, which was strangling the vents etc in the volcanic areas, the volcanism came back to life, and Kuirau was no longer considered safe enough for the train.” – Timespanner (2024)

Rotorua folk have been harnessing geothermal energy for their homes for hundreds of years. In the 1980s The State decided to interfere with this because they thought it would improve the tourist value of the Pohutu Geyser. Later, The State started going after more of the public to regulate their private bores too. There were unintended consequences.

It seemed that the stability of Kuirau Park was a product of private, Anarchistic, vents made by the public. Spontaneous order and balance. When the government started registering, permitting, shutting down, and limiting the people’s outlets the pressure had to find somewhere else to go. The State simply assumed it would go to their tourist attractions and make them even more spectacular. Instead, they had visited destruction upon Kuirau Park.

“About 1000 people will be directly affected by what the Rotorua District Council is proposing, including those who own or operate geothermal pools or have a permitted or disused bores…Justin Te Hau, one of about 200 people who regularly use the village’s seven private pools, is surprised at the council’s proposal. “We always keep ourselves safe, we make sure our kids are safe. We have always known what to do. We have lived here for hundreds of years. It’s a safety thing that’s bred into you.” – Tough rules for hot pools, rotorua-daily-post (2007)

“We poured truckloads of rocks in, but we were losing the battle,” Trevor Coleman said. “After we put up signs warning people it was dangerous custom fell away, which cost us a lot of money so we had to close.” – Final whistle for town’s tiny train, NZ Herald (2004)

“Efforts to relocate on the Rotorua lakefront led to a drawn-out debate with the district council. Mr Coleman was eventually refused the lakefront site on a seven to six vote and was offered another spot in Kuirau Park, behind the Volcanic Playground, but he declined. “The whole area is thermal. We cannot survive in Kuirau Park; it’s too dangerous,” he said.” – ibid

“Everyone – our volunteers, visitors and people in the community – would like to see the train going again. But our museum can’t afford to pay for the work that’s required.” – Rotorua Daily Post (2022)

The lakefront park was once a magical misty place with coin operated robot ducks and swans, a dragon, a battle tank, hot foot baths, and crocodiles. A beloved family picnic destination.

You can still go there but now it’s just the usual government affair every other town has. BBQs, Picnic tables. Playground, government toilets. Still foot pools and a paddling pool (probably empty.) Basically “decolonised” like so many other parks.

The old trainman, Coleman, died in 2022. The old locomotive is now owned by the Rotorua Settlers And Steam Museum who lack the skill or money to repair or run it. This, despite The State pumping some $90,000,000 into Rotorua Museum, even a pop star, which remains closed indefinitely. Figure that out.

Cool to see some Maori sculpture that’s not taking itself so seriously in this old entrance photo.

The proprietors had literally lost the ground under their feet because of what the government did. They tried to shift to a safe and stable area but the local government refused this, offering instead a different spot on the endangered part of the park. That was just as useless so they had signed the death warrant for Toot and Whistle on its 44th year.

Without government who would provide us parks and recreation?

—
Image ref. “Entrance to the Toot and Whistle steam train at Kuirau Park, Rotorua,” 1980s, Eric W Young Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections; Timespanner, Facebook (2024)

Like    Comment     Share