The Smith Family History

Reginald Smith, an accountant from Rotorua, acquired the 12-acre freehold property in 1931 with his wife Violet. After the renovation and reopening of the Te Wairoa Tearooms, which Violet managed, the family began excavating some of the 60 sites buried beneath rock, ash and mud.

By the 1950s, managed by their son Dudley Smith, the Buried Village incorporated the Tarawera Lakes District’s Post Office and General Store. Dudley and his wife Nora rebuild the facilities in the form of the vanished Rotomahana Hotel.

Today, the Buried Village is managed by Pam (Dudley ’s daughter) and her husband, Pat McGrath. They have continued the traditions of developing this unique attraction – adding the interactive, educational world-class Museum of Te Wairoa in 1999, extending the walkways within the park, and maintaining the integrity of the archaeological sites.

For nearly 80 years, the Buried Village has preserved, showcased and interpreted the stories behind the pioneering village of Te Wairoa and the eruption of Mount Tarawera in 1886. It is now one of New Zealand ’s leading tourism attractions.