November 04, 2012
Te Arawa buys thermal wonderland
Corks are popping in Te Arawa as the tribe celebrates its purchase of the world famous Champagne Pool and the country's largest bubbling mud pool.
The tribe's commercial arm has bought Waiotapu Geothermal Wonderland from the Sewell/Leinhardt family, which has built up the business over the past 30 years to be one of the region's top performing attractions.
Te Arawa Group Holdings chief executive Roger Pikia says South Island iwi Ngai Tahu, which already has investments in Rotorua tourism, was looking at the iconic business but agreed to drop out to let Te Arawa into the industry.
Alex and Cheryl Leindhardt will continue to manage the attraction.
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