Issue 5 • SPRING 2015
Guysers
Gazette
Rotorua Tips & Tricks The story of Tutanekai and Tiki Secret tales of the Ward Baths The perils of Skinny Jeans
Rotorua, here I come!
Gaystay
Rotorua, New Zealand
s t n e t Con
Springtim e season t : the perfect o visit th e Hobbito n Movie Set.
Happenings at Guysers Gaystay Spring ahead, Fall back!............................. 3
Tourism Rotorua, here I come!.................................. 6 Rotorua Tips & Tricks.................................10 Queenstown or Rotorua?........................14
Shopping Mountain Jade: Te Wahi Pounamu (The Place of Greenstone).......................16
History The story of Tutanekai and Tiki.............20 The secret tales of the Ward Baths, 1932 – 1972...................................................22
Rotorua Cuisine A toast to Volcanic Hills Wines...............26
Health The perils of Skinny Jeans.........................30
GUYSERS GAYSTAY Hosted B&B for gay men 1406c Pukuatua Street Rotorua, New Zealand
Gaystay
Phone: NZ +64 (0) 21 0298 8093 enquiries@guysersgaystay.com
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Welcome
ition of our very own Welcome to the spring ed uysers Gazette”. quarterly e-magazine “G e to visit Rotorua. Spring is a wonderful tim all the time as we edge The weather is improving city is becoming more towards summer and the visitor numbers. lively with an increase of out tourism in Rotorua, In this issue we talk all ab other regions in New what makes us unique to making the most out Zealand, tips and tricks for en you visit, and we of your time in Rotorua wh nces between what compare the major differe what Rotorua offers. Queenstown offers with n Jade Studio and We visit Rotorua’s Mountai ces on offer for men. showcase some of the pie ssed story of Tutanekai We tell of the seldom-discu sex partners prior to and Tiki – intimate same with Hinemoa. Tutanekai falling in love ates & Lovers’ by author From the sell-out book ‘M little snapshot of gay Chris Brickell, we share a ce at the once Ward history that was taking pla n 1932 and 1972. Baths in Rotorua betwee Brent Park from Rotorua’s We chat with Winemaker finish up with some Volcanic Hills Wines, and ng Skinny Jeans. disturbing perils of weari Enjoy!
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Guysers Gazette
Peter & Mike New Zealand Guysers Gaystay, Rotorua, Issue 5 • Spring 2015
Spring ahead, Fall back! The spring season is upon us as we slowly say goodbye to what was a rather cold and wet winter in New Zealand this year. As the days get longer and the warmer weather approaches we see new life and growth around us and new beginnings of another busy tourist season. In June this year, Mike and I took a much needed holiday to warmer climates to escape the New Zealand winter and to wind down after a very busy 2014/15 summer and autumn season here at Guysers Gaystay. This year we hopped around parts of Asia spending time in Singapore, Cambodia, Thailand and Bali.
Gaystay Rotorua
Museum (rather disturbing), but then cheered ourselves up with a dinner cruise on the Mekong River with an ‘all-you can drink’ open bar. Some days reached a stifling 39 degrees Celsius so we couldn’t wait to get back to the pool with a cool beer.
In Singapore we visited the Gardens by the Bay – a huge botanic gardens with the worlds largest greenhouses and the worlds largest indoor waterfall. Mind-blowing and spectacular! Then we went to Phnom Penh in Cambodia for 5 nights staying at a French-owned gay mens resort/villa called Arthur & Paul’s. In Phnom Penh we visited the Killing Fields and the Genocide
Enjoying a meal and the happy hour 2-for-1 Mojito’s in Ubud.
the Flower Domes The Cactus display inside Singapore. at ‘Gardens by the Bay’,
In Thailand we went down to Pattaya and stayed at a German/Thai-owned gay guesthouse called Lonops Paradise. We spent a day down at Jomtien gay beach, laying on sunloungers under the beach umbrellas, drinking lemon ice tea and beer, getting manicures, pedicures and rather good male massages! Then is was back to our ‘second home’ – Bali, where we spent time in Lovina, Ubud and Seminyak and purchased a few more lovely things to bring back to Guysers Gaystay.
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Now that we are back home off holiday we are refreshed, enthusiastic, and ready to get stuck into another peak season at Guysers Gaystay in Rotorua. The bookings are already coming in for summer so if you were thinking about a holiday here at Guysers Gaystay you best start planning and secure your booking soon to avoid disappointment. This year hasn’t been all holiday’s and hot pools for us. We’ve recently had some hunky builders around to install a new large double-glazed window and door in our dining area. Not only does this let more sunlight in, but also provides easier access to our private courtyard area and spa pool for our guests that are booked into Room 2 (otherwise known as the Merah (red) Room). Now our guests in Room 2 don’t have to walk right around the side of the house to get there, which just makes things easier for them. When we were in Cambodia we purchased from an electrical store 2 in-wall international wall sockets which we are going to install into each of the guest bedrooms (we have not seen these in New Zealand, which is why we got them there). This saves our guests having to muck about with portable adapters to try and charge their electronic devices. All the little changes and additions we do here at Guysers Gaystay is aimed at making a better, easier, stress-free guest experience.
When we were in Ubud in Bali, we purchased some beautiful original paintings that represent traditional Balinese life. One is of a Balinese village scene with flying umbul umbul’s (flags) and the other is a bright and colourful representation of the Ubud Markets. These paintings will now be a focal point in one of the guest rooms and in our dining room.
Balinese painting we pu
rchased in Ubud.
As well as running Guysers Gaystay, we have been busy creating websites and brand identity for local businesses in Rotorua. This has kept us very busy between guest visits and provides a supplementary income for us (and helps us to pay off our holiday and VISA bill!) Also, I (Peter) recently offered to be a nude male model for the Rotorua Life Drawing Group which is a weekly drawing class for around 12 to 15 artists. The 2-hour session went well and I did 5 or 6 different poses lasting around 20 minutes each (in a thermally heated room thank goodness!). (Sorry, no pic). It’s a hard job taking your clothes off in front of a bunch of people for the sake of art, but someone has to do it! (I made $60 too, bonus!). The Rotorua Arts Village is holding a Life Drawing Exhibition titled “The Naked Truth” 4-29 Sept 2015, 1240 Hinemaru Street. q
and his spunky Chief Builder door. stalling our new apprentice in
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Issue 5 • Spring 2015
Picture: Yarn Bombing, Rotorua. Rotorua has been voted New Zealand’s most beautiful city six times in the 11-year history of the ‘Keep New Zealand Beautiful’ competition.
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Tourism
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Issue 5 • Spring 2015
Rotorua, here I come! If you are planning a holiday in New Zealand and have read our previous issues of the Guysers Gazette, hopefully by now we have got you interested in spending several days here in Rotorua!
Why visit Rotorua?. In each issue of the Guysers Gazette we have focused on some of the amazing tourist attractions the Rotorua district offers. Rotorua really is the ‘playground of the North Island’ offering spectacular scenery, natural geothermal wonders, world class spas and mountain bike trails, Maori cultural experiences and a vast array of adrenalin-pumping action activities.
Rotorua won ‘Best Flo at’ at the 2015 Auckland Pride Fe stival.
Thousands of visitors from all over the world are attracted to Rotorua and the growth of tourism here is increasing each year. No matter what your interest is, how adventurous you are, or what your budget is, Rotorua has attractions to suit everyone.
What is the attraction for gay men to Rotorua?. This all depends on what kind of holiday you are after. If you are wanting gay nightclubs, dedicated gay bars, saunas or cruise venues then Rotorua does not offer this due to our relatively small population that cannot sustain these kind of venues. However, Rotorua will not disappoint in providing a fun and exciting place to base yourselves for a few days. Being bored in Rotorua is simply not possible! Rotorua does have a colourful gay community and there are several gay-friendly bars in the city should you want a night out socialising.
The beautiful Governm ent Gardens and Rotorua Museum. A m ust see.
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Rotorua is also resident to a number of drag personalities who are often out and about adding colour and life to every organised occasion or gay pride event held in the city.
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As a gay man, where is the best place stay in Rotorua?.
How many days should I spend in Rotorua?.
New Zealand as a whole has become pretty gay-friendly, especially in the motel and hotel industry where it is illegal to refuse a gay couple a room for the night. Many motels and hotels claim they are ‘gay-friendly’ and some even advertise on gay accommodation websites (with the aim of trying to cash in on the ‘pink dollar’).
When planning your holiday you need to think about how many full days you will have rather than nights you will spend. With any accommodation provider, check-in time is usually after 2 or 3pm. When coming to Rotorua by any means of transport (hire car, bus or plane) several hours will be spent just getting here, so you won’t have time to do hardly anything on the day you check-in. Check-out time in most cases is 10am. If you were hoping you will do lots of attractions and sightseeing in Rotorua with just a one night booking, forget it! (unless you think going to the hot pools and going out for dinner in the evening as ‘I’ve done Rotorua’?).
If all you want is a place to crash for the night and be by yourselves locked in a room then you can choose any of the accommodation options available in Rotorua. However, if you want to stay in TRUE gay owned and hosted accommodation and to be in a friendly, relaxed and unihibited environment with other men, then your best choice is to book with us here at Guysers Gaystay B&B. Unlike many of the motels or backpackers in Rotorua, at Guysers Gaystay a hearty breakfast (both Continental and cooked) is all part of the service. With quality beds and linen, electric blankets for use in winter, a stocked mini-bar, in-room LED TV, free Wi-Fi and a spa pool, we know your stay with us will be comfortable and enjoyable.
Gaystay
Hijau Room (or the gr een room) at Guysers Gaystay, with direct ac cess to the spa pool.
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On our website (https://guysersgaystay.com) we have stated a recommended minimum stay of 3 nights. We don’t say this just because we’d like you to stay longer, we say it because we know that if you are truly wanting to experience Rotorua, and to do it justice, then this is the absolute minimum length of stay you will require here. Even with a 3-night stay, you would have only just begun to scratch the surface of the multitude of things there is to see and do here in Rotorua. We have had guests who have stayed with us for up to 9 nights and they have had full days of sightseeing, spas, cultural experiences and thrilling adventures, without the slightest hint of becoming bored or under-whelmed. On our website you’ll see we have an ‘attractions’ tab where we have listed all the attractions with links to their websites so you can find out more information. If you are on a budget we have also listed all the ‘free things’ there are to do in Rotorua. If you compile a list of things you’d like to do while in Rotorua, simply email us in advance and we can assist in making bookings for you, and in many cases we can provide discounts. (enquiries@guysersgaystay.com)
Issue 5 • Spring 2015
What clothes and things do I need to pack when I visit New Zealand?. Deciding what you need to bring with you when you come to New Zealand depends on the time of year you intend to visit. New Zealand has 4 seasons; summer, autumn, winter and spring, but because we are a relatively small country surrounded by a huge ocean, sometimes it feels like we experience all 4 seasons in one day! We recommend you bring a range of clothes, even if arriving in our summer months (December to March). Bring shorts, jeans, T-shirts, singlets, long sleeve shirts, a hoodie or woollen jumper, shoes, jandals, a waterproof jacket and a hat. You may not require all these items, but it’s better to have them then to get caught in a cold snap without them! You will also need to bring sunscreen as our sun can be harsh in summer. Although you are welcome to bathe naked in our spa pool at Guysers Gaystay, you will need to bring a pair of swimwear if you want to go to any of the commercial thermal pools here in Rotorua (they are not clothing optional unless you rent a private pool). Other things that can come in handy are: insect repellent (more important if heading to the South Island), lip balm with an SPF rating, and your own sarong that can be used as a towel if heading to a beach. A small compact umbrella can also come in handy if the weather does decide to rain. If you are on any sort of medication, be sure to bring enough to see you right through your time here in NZ. q
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Rotorua Tips & Tricks As local residents of Rotorua with a great deal of knowledge (and personal experience) about our area and attractions, we’d like to share with you a few of our tips & tricks to ensure you have the best time here...
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If you go to the Hells Gate Mud Spa it pays NOT to put mud on your face (or too close to your eyes). The sulphur in the mud will cause your eyes to water and be bloodshot for the rest of the day! Its best to apply it from the neck down.
If you go to the Rotorua Museum do not miss going into the cinema to see the 20-minute documentary that reenacts the day Mt Tarawera erupted. Sit in the middle row for the best cinematic experience! It is one of the highlights of the museum.
If you go to Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland and see the Lady Knox Geyser at 10:15am in the morning, be sure to get there early to get a good seat, do not sit in the front couple of rows if the wind direction is coming towards you as you will get wet, and after the geyser has finished, kill a bit of time in the gift shop or café before going into the rest of the park to avoid following the same crowds around the whole time.
If you go to the Tamaki Maori Village or any of the Maori cultural centres in Rotorua, DO NOT laugh at the warrior during the welcome. This is regarded as being highly offensive and they may even put you back on the bus and refuse you entry! If you are assigned ‘chief’ of your tour group you will have to hongi (rub noses) with the warrior. No matter how cute you think he is, do not kiss him with your lips or you’ll get a slap!
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If you go White Water Rafting on the Kaituna River and you don’t want your raft to flip going over the 7 metre waterfall, place the heavier people at the front of the boat! (Well, you may want to flip?)
If you’d like to have a memorable dinner out, go to the Rotorua Skyline’s Stratosfare Restaurant. The set-price extensive buffet includes the ride up on the gondola. Try and request a window seat too!
If you go to the Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland be sure to follow the street sign to the ‘mud pool’. This is Rotorua’s largest and most active mud pool, and best of all, it’s free!
If you go to Hobbition be sure the weather is nice as most of the guided walk is outside. You’ll get much nicer photos if the sun is shining and the flowers are blooming and not droopy with rain drops.
If you go to the Polynesian Spa and want to avoid the mass coach loads of people, go before lunch or afternoon before 6pm. Private pools are only for 30 minutes and are quite small. In our opinion you get better value for money in the ‘Adult Pools’.
If you are on a budget and want to do some free things or walks, be sure to check out our website https://guysersgaystay.com/things.html The Hamurana Springs (pictured) is one of Rotorua’s best local secrets. Spectacular!
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If you want to see our New Zealand icon, the Kiwi, your best place to see them is at Rainbow Springs – New Zealand’s largest and most successful Kiwi breeding and conservation centre.
If you go out to the Waikite Valley hotpools, after your swim be sure to do the 10-minute eco trail to see the furiously boiling spring that passes through a cooling system before entering the pools.
If you love cocktails, some of the most delicious and imaginative ones are expertly mixed at Atticus Finch Restaurant on Rotorua’s Eat Streat. Or try the cocktails at Ponsonby Road Bar, also on Eat Streat.
If you go to any of the Thermal Hotpools in Rotorua, be sure to take a bottle of water in with you. Without regular fluids you can dehydrate very quickly and can faint when you go to get out.
No trip to Rotorua is complete without trying a Maori Hangi dinner (meats and vegetables cooked underground over hot rocks and embers). There are several places you can try a Hangi in Rotorua, but our personal favorite is at Te Puia.
One of the best ways to enjoy being on the water on Lake Rotorua is with a lunch or dinner cruise on The Lakeland Queen. This genuine paddlesteamer will take you along the shores of Lake Rotorua with some great educational commentary.
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For delicious street food head to the Rotorua Thursday Night Market held every Thursday on Tutanekai Street from 5pm onwards. Don’t go too late though or some stalls can sell out.
If you’d like to have a go at feeding a New Zealand bird of prey by hand, head to Wingspan (1164 Paradise Valley Road, Rotorua) for the spectacular flying display and educational talk, 2pm daily.
If shopping for souvenirs be sure to check that they are New Zealand made. Sadly, many products sold in our souvenir shops are made in China. We say ‘support New Zealand made’.
Be aware when walking around any geothermal area in Rotorua. Thermal springs and mud pools can be boiling. Heed warning signs, stick to the formed pathways and never climb fences for a closer look.
If you feel some some fresh air and exercise head out to Lake Tikitapu (the Blue Lake) and walk right the way around. This free walk takes approximately 1 hour and 10 minutes taking you through a lush forest with stunning lake views.
Lastly, your best choice for gay owned and hosted accommodation in Rotorua is at Guysers Gaystay. https://guysersgaystay.com 100% men, 100% comfortable, 100% enjoyable. Your ‘home away from home’. q
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Queenstown or Rotorua ?. Both Queenstown and Rotorua are popular tourist destinations, but for most tourists a decision has to be made which to choose as it is not always possible to do both the North and South Island in the one holiday. We hope this comparison chart of attractions and services will make your decision a little easier. Queenstown
Queenstown
Rotorua
Gondola, Luge & Restaurant
Lake Cruises Twice the length!
One of a kind in NZ!
Duck Tour (Amphibious Vehicles)
Mountain Bike Trails Rotorua: World Class!
Only in Rotorua!
Whitewater Rafting (Grades 2-5)
Bungy Jump NZ’s Highest Jump
Rotorua’s: 43 metres
Rotorua: World Class!
Swoop (Freefall Swing)
Sledging
Shweeb (Monorail Cycling Pods)
Kayaking Only one in the world!
Inc. glow worm cave!
Jet Boating (speed, thrills & 360° spins)
Skydiving (from Aeroplane)
Inc. Thermal Discovery!
It is available in Taupo
Freefall Xtreme (Skydiving Simulator)
Rotorua
Scenic Helicopter Flights Only one in NZ!
Inc. Volcano Landings!
Scenic Float Plane Flights
Ziplining
Unique DHC-3 Otter
Includes Eco Tour
4WD Offroad Adventures
Globeriding (ie, Zorb, OGO) Only in Rotorua!
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Issue 5 • Spring 2015
Queenstown
Rotorua
Parasailing (Towed by Jetboat)
Queenstown
Rotorua
Forest Walks Inc. Unique Redwoods
Stand Up Paddle Boards
Lion Park On Lake or River
Geothermal Parks & Geysers
Sheep & Farm Shows Only in Rotorua!
19 Breeds of Sheep!
Thermal Mineral Hot Pools
Winery (Tasting & Sales)
Mineral Mud Spas
Railcruising (Railroad Vehicles) Only in Rotorua!
Only in Rotorua!
Professional Raceline Karting
World Class Spa Treatment Facility
Lap Length: 1.2km
Voted World Top 10 Spa!
Kiwi Bird Conservation & Breeding Centre
Lord of the Rings Movie Set Tours Best in New Zealand!
World Class Historic Museum
Location sites only
Hobbiton
Ski Fields World Class!
Maori Cultural Performance 1 Venue in Queenstown
6 Venues in Rotorua!
Traditional Maori Hangi Dinner
Does not snow in Rotorua
Distance to Closest Ski Fields (from city)
Ruapehu: 2 hrs 20 mins
To/from Australia
Currently not (2015)
AKL–QTN: 1hr 50mins
AKL–ROT: 40mins
Direct Trans-Tasman Flights 6 Venues in Rotorua!
Daily Domestic Flights
Jade Factory (carving studio) 2 Studios in Rotorua!
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Remarkables: 35 mins
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Shopping
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Issue 5 • Spring 2015
Te Wahi Pounamu
(The Place of Greenstone) Mountain Jade Rotorua is New Zealand’s premium source of jade jewellery and greenstone jade art. They work with leading New Zealand jade carvers to bring you traditional and contemporary jade jewellery carved from New Zealand pounamu and greenstone from around the world. We spoke with Sabine Willemsen from the Rotorua store to find out about what makes a Mountain Jade piece so special and why it makes a perfect, unique treasure for yourself or to give as a gift for that special person in your life. Mountain Jade was founded in 1986 and is now a world leader in the creation and production of nephrite jade carving. Growing from a humble single-man workshop, the company has expanded and is offering the largest range of jade carvings, sculptures and jewellery across 5 retail stores and an online store, all based in New Zealand. As true jade specialists, Mountain Jade believes quality control is paramount; and consequently, sourcing the best quality material, best designs, and best service are key tenets in the company’s practice. During the company’s long history and extensive travel to the jade fields of New Zealand, Canada, Russia, and Australia, Mountain Jade staff have accumulated an immense knowledge of jade carving techniques and processes from around the world. One aspect of this is being able to source and pick the best jewellery grade jade. Most people don’t realise that all jade is not created equal.
Nephrite jade, greenstone and pounamu (the Maori word for ‘green treasure’) are just some of the names given to this semi-precious stone, found around many countries in the world and on the South Island of New Zealand. An easy way to look at it is like this: The European colonists of New Zealand called it greenstone, the geologist calls it nephrite, the gemologist calls it jade, and the Maori call it pounamu. A stone credited with an array of highly desirable properties it is as sought after and highly-priced today as it was by the ancients some thousands of years ago. Pounamu, or jade, is known as the ‘God Stone’ for the Maori people. Maori didn’t imbue pounamu with healing properties but certainly embraced it, and still do, as a talisman. They believe the spiritual power to evoke strength and prosperity, to protect, to express love and kinship and to depict growth and harmony. These beliefs are symbolised in a range of designs like the Hei Matau, Koru and Twist.
Continued over... Model: Cody Jarvie Contact: codyjarvie@gmail.com • 022 0965950 guysersgaystay.com
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Con temp ook H h s i orary F
Above are just a fr action of the design s on offer. Come an see the full range d in store on Fenton Street, Rotorua.
Hei Matau or Fish Hook is said to represent strength, good luck, prosperity, good health and safe travel across water. The Koru is based on the unfurling frond of the silver fern, New Zealand’s most iconic native plant. The Koru is symbolising new life and growth, like that experienced by the baby silver fern frond. This symbol and design is extremely important in Maori art and carving.
The Infinity or Twist symbol is based on the intertwining fronds of the pikopiko fern and it is said that it symbolises the bond between two people, a bond that never fades, even if these individuals are separated for a long time. It also resembles the paths of life and eternity. The Toki or Adze was originally a practical tool used in axes, chisels and weaponry. It has become known to represent strength and courage.
is just ntain Jade, Rotorua. He ou M at er rv ca u am un po collection. Niki Nepia is a specialist ces for the Rotorua store pie g in at cre ts tis ar d te one of many talen
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Issue 5 • Spring 2015
Fish
The S piral (Koru)
Jade Dog Tags
Hook
The spiritual significance of jade has long been recognised in New Zealand and wearing a piece will forever enhance and empower your life. Mountian Jade shops are located in Auckland, Rotorua and Hokitika. Opening hours 9am to 6pm, 7 days a week. The Rotorua and Hokitika stores also have a carving workshop attached and you are welcome to come in and witness the artists transform this humble yet beautiful stone into something truly magnificent. q CONTACT Mountain Jade, Rotorua 1288 Fenton Street, Rotorua, NZ Phone: +64 (0)7 349 1828 E-mail: sales@mountainjade.co.nz Website: www.mountainjade.co.nz
me. is ever the sa e d ja f o s e c are! No two pie nique as you u s a is e c ie Each p
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If you come to the Rotorua store and mention you read this article in the Guysers Gazette you will recieve a 10% discount off any purchase! (Rotorua only)
HOT DEAL!
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History
Article and illustration courtesy of: www.queerlegendarylove.com
The story of Tutanekai and Tiki When you visit Rotorua you will no doubt hear of the most famous Maori love story between Tutanekai and a young maiden by the name of Hinemoa. But often the story glances over the fact that prior to Tutanekai falling in love with Hinemoa, he had an ‘intimate companion of the same sex’ – a man by the name of Tiki.
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Same-sex love was common in pre-European New Zealand. Early Christian missionaries found the homosexual behavior of the indigenous Maori difficult to stop. Exclusively same-sex relationships were accepted among the Maori. However, a preference for samesex intimacy did not necessarily preclude heterosexual relationships or marriage with someone of the opposite sex. Similarly, a preference for heterosexual relationships did not exclude same-sex intimacy. There is a story from the 17th century about two Maori takatapui (intimate partners of the same sex). Since their childhood together on Mokoia Island in the center of Lake Rotorua, Tutanekai and Tiki had considered each other ‘soul-mates’. When Tutanekai traveled to Owhata for diplomatic purposes, he met a high ranking young maiden by the name of Hinemoa, the daughter of a very influential chief, and they began to fall in love. Tutanekai was extremely handsome and excelled at the games of the time which Maori used to develop co-ordination and skills for times of battle. It was Tutanekai’s prowess at these games and his good looks which caught Hinemoa’s eye. She fell in love with Tutanekai and at each subsequent tribal meeting they would fall more deeply for one another. Hinemoa’s people disapproved of their love and sent Tutanekai back to Mokoia Island. It was such a sad state of affairs, as neither could see any way their love would ever be requited. Tutanekai would sit on the shores of Mokoia Island with his boyfriend Tiki and play sad music on his flute. The music would waft across the lake on still evenings to where Hinemoa sat aching also with passion. She was filled with sadness and knew she could never marry anyone but Tutanekai. Her people began to suspect this was the case, and in order to prevent her sneaking away to her secret love,
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they pulled all the canoes up on to the shore, so they were too heavy for her to move alone. Undeterred, Hinemoa used emptied gourds, tied them together to create floatation devices, and swam across the great lake to Mokoia Island in the darkness of night, following the sound of Tutanekai’s flute. She arrived on the island naked and cold and so climbed into a hot spring (now named Hinemoa’s Pool). Tutanekai sent Tiki down to collect water in calabashes (jugs). Hinemoa recognised Tiki and, in hopes of luring Tutanekai down to the spring, she challenged Tiki and smashed his calabashes on a rock. Furious that someone had mistreated his takatapui in such a way, Tutanekai stormed down to the spring. Difficult to see in the darkness, Tutanekai grabbed her by her hair and pulled her out of the water. “Who are you?” he yelled. “Who dares annoy me?”. She answered, “It is I, Hinemoa, who has come to you.” Tutanekai was overjoyed to find it was Hinemoa. He took off his cloak and wrapped it around Hinemoa and they returned to his house to sleep together, sealing their marriage with a night of lovemaking (which left Tiki very upset). Tutanekai did not forget Tiki, though. After Tutanekai’s marriage to Hinemoa, Tiki sadly gathered his belongings and prepared to leave Tutanekai’s family. Tutanekai begged Tiki to stay. Tutanekai’s family also asked Tiki to stay and Tutanekai’s sister married Tiki so that he could continue to live with Tutanekai and Hinemoa. Though European colonialism and oppression has greatly impacted the lives of the Maori, a general acceptance of loving same-sex relationships continues today. Many Maori activists helped pass the New Zealand Human Rights Act, which protects GLBT people from discrimination. In 2013, New Zealand legalised gay marriage, a right now enjoyed by many modern day takatapui. q
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The nude men’s pool pr ovided much titillation and was ofte n the ‘hook-up’ point before heading to a pr ivate pool or a motel.
The secret tales of the Ward Baths, 1932 -1972 From the sell-out book ‘Mates & Lovers – A History of Gay New Zealand’ by Author and Associate Professor of Gender Studies at Otago University, Chris Brickell, this article describes how gay and bisexual men during this era would flock to swimming pools around the country in search of ‘adventures’ – the most famous of these establishments was the then Ward Baths in Rotorua (the same site as the now current Polynesian Spa). With kind permission from Chris Brickell, the Guysers Gazette is able to share this little snapshot of gay history that was taking place in New Zealand at that time.
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Issue 5 • Spring 2015
w Zealand named for an early Ne re we , 32 19 in ed en thermal waters. The Ward Baths, op who had a passion for d, ar W ph se Jo r Si , er Prime Minist
Swimming pools provided an endless source of pleasure for many gay men during this era. Wellingtonian Felix Page remembers that new arrivals at the saltwater baths in Oriental Bay, Wellington, were greeted with a ‘sense of gleaming, watching eyes’. The complex provided small open-ended ‘dressing boxes’, and men sunbathed with their heads and upper bodies inside and their legs and feet hanging out. This arrangement meant one could initiate contact by discreetly touching the feet of a man lying half out of the adjacent box. South Islanders, meanwhile, headed to Hanmer Springs in North Canterbury, where sexual adventurers found pleasure among the mineral pools there.
Nice men could be foun d almost anywhere, including the Te Aro sa ltwater pool on Wellington’s Oriental Parade. c.1950.
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Scene at Rotorua, look ing over a pond, towards the Ward Bath s, c.1935
Continued... By far the most famous of these establishments, though, was the Ward Baths in Rotorua. This elegant neoclassical building opened in 1932 next to the main Rotorua bathhouse and sanatorium. It offered both a large male-only pool with nude bathing, and private pools that couples could hire. Women had their own segregated pool on the right hand side of the building. From the very beginning, the locals made the most of the opportunities the baths offered. Simon Sydney went along regularly in the years before the war. “I had the time of my life there”, he recalls:
“I was a tall, well-built fifteen year old when I first discovered this gay heaven and was insatiable. I always found a casual partner, for Rotorua was a tourist town and every gay man in the world flocked to the Ward Baths.
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I had nearly four years of utter sexual pleasure with hundreds of randy men. How I fooled the pool attendants I shall never know, for I was there at least four times a week, but was never warned off.” As Simon Sydney indicates, men made the trip to Rotorua from all over. Eric McCormick set out by railcar from Auckland in search of ‘adventures’ there. He once told a friend afterwards that “the incidents of a weekend in Rotorua are so remote from anything you could imagine that I forebear committing them to paper”. Other Aucklanders used to race down to Rotorua every conceivable weekend. “We had wonderful times In Rotorua”, one man remembered of the 1950s. “All the gay population of Auckland would be down there, plus tourists from all around the world”.
Issue 5 • Spring 2015
g Baths showin rd a W e th f o nd the The layout th on the left a a b e d u n ’s ls n e the m he private poo T t. h g ri e th n women’s o uples). top left (for co A teenager during the 1950s, Felix Page, was introduced to the Ward Baths by his parents. While they enjoyed the bathing and the air of Edwardian respectability that went along with it, the young lad soon noticed the sexual undertone of the place. Over subsequent visits he became aware that men would pick each other up in the ticket queue and proceed to a private pool, or cruise the main pool. The opacity of the water, tinged aspirin-grey by its minerals, facilitated approaches and the tentative touching of feet, and the other bathers rarely noticed what was going on. As William Campbell remembered, ‘you could feel up the merchandise before you took it away’.
these, hidden in the bush by the side of the road, and they had their own etiquette. A parked car indicated that a sexual encounter was taking place and that prospective bathers had to wait their turn. Felix Page discovered this aspect of the Rotorua scene some years after his initial visit, when he was picked up at the Ward Baths by a local farmer.
Contact made, parties might proceed to one of the nearby hotels or motels, or to one of the informal natural thermal pools dotted around the Rotorua countryside. There were many of
The book ‘Mates & Lovers’ is now out of print, but there are still a few copies available (while stocks last) from www.genrebooks.co.nz
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The Ward Baths were a New Zealand institution until 1972, when the building underwent modifications and became the more familyoriented Polynesian Spa, as it is called today.
Research: www.brickell.co.nz q
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Rotorua
Cuisd iwninee! an
A toast to Volcanic Hills Wines, Rotorua
inemakers From left, W Brent Park, and Sean Beer ce Skyline Bru and GM of n. Thomanse
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Guysers Gazette
Issue 5 • Spring 2015
By Brent Park
The Volcanic Hills Tasti ng Room at the top of the Skyline Gond ola.
‘A Winery in Rotorua?’ I hear you ask? Well, it’s true. Entrepreneurs and founders of Volcanic Hills Wines, Sean Beer and Brent Park, have been making outstanding red and white wines in Rotorua since 2013. We chat with Brent Park and ask him how Volcanic Hills Wines came to be in Rotorua, about their fantastic location, and more importantly, where they source the grapes? Volcanic Hills Winery is very simply the collaboration of two winemakers with more than 20 years of experience, spanning the world’s best wine styles and tastes. Having developed a simple, but strong portfolio of New Zealand’s best wine styles, from the best grape growing regions, made right here in Rotorua. Sean Beer and I met while working together for a large wine company based in West Auckland over 10 year ago now. We agreed that we wanted to go out and make something special ourselves, so we decided on the styles, and went for it! Initially our ideas were to make what New Zealand does best and sell it to high quality bars and restaurants, specifically Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc and Central Otago Pinot Noir. We used ‘virtual wineries’ (aka other peoples), until we had enough working capital to build something ourselves. We were very clear that we wanted to be different from everyone else
in the industry, most of whom where being dictated to by large buying mega stores. Our decision to be in Rotorua hinged on several things, firstly I was brought up and schooled locally, hence had some local knowledge, plus there is great tourist market that was largely untapped. We thought, Rotorua is already world-famous for its well-established tourism attractions (geothermal features, Maori culture experiences and adventure tourism), why doesn’t the region also have a genuine winethemed experience offering? Once the decision was made to come to town, it was then a case of finding a location that not only could accommodate what we wanted to do, but also somewhere that could offer us the highest customer exposure for our new venture. We approached Skyline Gondola Rotorua in September 2011 after looking around at quite a few locations and having had little success in ticking all our requirement needs, only to find
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Continued... that the timing was good for them too as they were also looking at new attraction ideas. Hence just over a year later we opened the door to our tasting room at the top of the Skyline Gondola. This was then quickly followed 4 months afterwards by the first grapes arriving at our newly developed winery adjacent to the Skyline bottom terminal, in a pre-existing structure that suited the purpose perfectly. We now produce a full stable of wines including; Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Gris, a fully oak matured Hawkes Bay Chardonnay, and both a Central Otago and Martinborough Pinot Noir. Plus we have also made a very small run of Martinborough Pinot Noir Rose that was made especially for the
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summer, beautiful in the sunshine! All our grapes are sourced from the best vineyards, that are empirically famous for their grape growing style, and then brought here, to Rotorua, to be turned into the Volcanic Hills Range. Come and see for yourself the breathtaking views from our Tasting Room at the top of the Skyline Rotorua Gondola, while tasting the fruits of our local labour. q CONTACT Brent Park, Volcanic Hills Wines 176 Fairy Springs Road, Rotorua, NZ Phone: +64 (0)7 282 2018 E-mail: info@volcanichills.co.nz Website: www.volcanichills.co.nz
Issue 5 • Spring 2015
Great wine requires a madman to grow the vine, a wise man to watch over it, a lucid poet to make it, and a lover to drink it. – Salvador Dali
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Guysers Gazette
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Health The perils of Skinny Jeans There is a saying in the fashion world – “Beauty is pain”. Women who like to be fashionable know this all too well having to walk in sky-high heels, bust-boosting bras and skimpy bikinis. But with the fashion trend of Skinny Jeans, men are also feeling the pain of looking good. According to research, for one in 10 men who wear tight-fitting Skinny Jeans, the lean look is becoming a real pain in the groin! Based on a study of 2,000 men conducted by a leading male bladder-weakness brand in the UK, half of guys who wear too-tight pants experience bladder weakness, urinary tract infections, and even twisted testicles! The problems with wearing Skinny Jeans is that it can cause a testicular torsion, where one testicle gets twisted on itself. If left untreated, the torsion can cut off the blood supply requiring immediate surgery to prevent a gangrenous testicle. Normally the condition is so painful that men seek help pretty quickly. Tight fitting Skinny Jeans can reduce airflow around the crotch, resulting in higher temperatures. The effect of warmer balls is a lower sperm count.
Testicular Torsion Normal testicle:
Testicular Torsion:
Skinny Jeans can also put pressure on the abdomen so your food doesn’t digest properly, especially for people who have reflux oesophagitis, heartburn or chronic heartburn. Tight clothing can aggravate those problems. When asked why they still wore the Skinny Jeans, the most common survey answer was “to show I can still fit in them” and “because they look good and show off my assets.” But are they worth the risk? We reckon play it safe – go loose, be free! q
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Issue 5 • Spring 2015
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Guysers Gazette
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Issue 5 • Spring 2015