TIKITERE GEOTHERMAL FIELD
Tikitere is a large field of geothermal activity centred around the Rotorua-Whakatane highway about three miles east of Te Ngae junction. The name Tikitere has been given to describe the whole valley of geothermal activity. Tikitere itself originally referred to a ngawha, and the naming of that ngawha derived from the actions of a love torn ancestress of Ngāti Rangiteaorere, Huritini.
Tikitere was a permanent settlement of Rangiteaorere. Its geothermal hot waters were used for bathing, cooking and medicinal purposes. Rangiteaorere ancestors are buried in the land, there being several urupa amongst the bush and ngawha.
Visitors were led around Tikitere by guides as early as the 1840’s. In 1894 a committee of owners was established and they formally advertised prices for entry into the reserve and bathing charges. Guiding was a major commercial activity particularly under the direction of Te Aho o Te Rangi Rogers. The Hells Gate venture was leased to an outside operator in the 1960’s and the thermal reserve became neglected over time. It has been re-established as a tourism venture but has not made any return to the Trust owners - who are also members of Ngati Rangiteaorere. NRCC has objected to the trustees’ governance of Tikitere and Hells Gate, including the lack of proper consultation. The owners have never received any return from this Taonga and there is significant risk that they will not see any return in the next 52 years.
Ngāti Rangiteaorere has plans for the development of its geothermal field. It is capable of generating an 80 megawatt power station without affecting the important tourism site of Hells Gate. The Hapu is aware that a geothermal development plan run in conjunction with its relatives situate at Mokoia Island (Ngāti Rangiwewehi), Maketu (Tapuika), Haparangi (Wahiao), Rauhoto (Wairakei), Ngāti Hineure (Tauhara), Ngati Turangitukua (Kitetahi springs and Tokaanu) is the optimum way of spreading costs of development. This taonga is a priority for negotiation with the Crown.
