Smiths Gift Store

Reginald and Violet Smith having acquired the property in 1931 renovated the Te Wairoa Tearooms and began excavating some of the 60 sites buried beneath rock, ash and mud. By the 1950’s managed by their son, Dudley Smith, the Buried Village incorporated the Tarawera Lakes District’s Post Office and General Store.

Today, current managing director Pam ( Dudley ’s daughter) and her husband Pat McGrath continue developing this unique attraction. They have added the interactive, educational and world class Museum of Te Wairoa (established in 1999).

Smith’s Gift Store has traded for over 60 years – featuring one of Rotorua’s most comprehensive collections of authentic carved artifacts, including traditional Maori native wood carvings produced by local master carvers; greenstone and bone jewellery. There is an impressive collection of books on New Zealand and Maori myths and legends and beautifully illustrated Childrens’ books.