Rainbow Springs - A Brief History
The land Rainbow Springs is located on was purchased by Mr Ted Bruce back in 1929 after he moved to Rotorua from Fielding.
At the time it was a run down dairy farm and much of the land was set in swamp due to several natural water springs which flowed from it. Ted Bruce proved to be a man of considerable vision as he saw the possibilities of using the land around the springs to create a wildlife park and tourist attraction.
In 1940 Ted Bruce sold Rainbow Springs and then after a succession of owners it was sold to Mr Jack Mills in 1967. Purchasing the park in partnership with the Brown brothers and his last son-in-law Mel Friend.
The park was purchased in November 1973 by the Chartwell Trust of Hamilton. Ongoing development saw the addition of the nocturnal kiwi house, extension to the gift shop, a new administrative building and in 1977, a restaurant (which was later converted to Kiwi Encounter as it stands today).
Rainbow Springs was then purchased in 1995 by the Shotover Jet Group in Queenstown (Ngai Tahu Tourism is now the major shareholder of this company).
The next few years saw numerous improvements being made to the park including the development of the kiwi static display outside the nocturnal house, the conversion of the information centre into the café and a new free-flight aviary in the park.
In September 2003 the restaurant was closed and construction began on the ambitious transformation of the restaurant into Kiwi Encounter. This is the first purpose built kiwi hatchery and rearing facility in New Zealand.
Kiwi Encounter opened to the public in April 2004.
Work began in mid 2005 on the installation of the coloured night lighting in Rainbow Springs.
October 1st 2005 saw the opening of the park for ‘night business’ offering a ‘wow factor’ for the public to observe at night.
2005 also saw the re-opening of the pathway to the Fairy Spring lawn area and the introduction of the new wildlife.
In March 2006, Rainbow Springs commenced a new business venture with its neighbours Mitai Maori Cultural Experience. An evening package combining the newly lit Rainbow Springs with Mitai’s already successful evening Hangi dinner and cultural performance.
2006 was a successful year for Rainbow Springs as it entered the Westpac Rotorua Business Excellence Awards and won the Pukeroa Oruawhata Holdings Ltd Hospitality and Attractions business of the year category and then went on to win the Westpac Rotorua Supreme Business of the award
In 2008 Rainbow Springs were announced as finalists in the New Zealand Tourism in Visitor Attraction and Conservation in Action Award categories.
Kiwi Encounter reached a milestone in 2009 hatching its 700th kiwi chick. This was topped off with a bumper breeding season with 138 kiwi hatching.
Rainbow Springs and Kiwi Encounter have come a long way from their initial beginnings and continue to plan more developments to ensure your experience is memorable.
Timeline of Developments at Rainbow Springs
| 1898 | Tapu lifting ceremony at Fairy Springs. |
| 1899 | Fairy Springs admitted paying visitors. |
| 1907 | Fairy Springs established as one of Rotorua’s tourist attractions. |
| 1929-32 | Mr Edward (Ted) Bruce purchased the property. A motor camp and camping ground was established. |
| 1931-32 | Establishment of Rainbow Pool, digging and planting of native flora. |
| Dec 1932 | Rainbow Springs opened to the public. |
| 1940 | Ted Bruce sold Rainbow Springs. |
| 1940-59 | Numerous owners/proprietors. |
| Mar 1959 | Merve and Rob Brown purchased Rainbow Springs, built the Nursery pool, placed the mirror under the Rainbow Pool, built the wall and windows at the Underwater View Pool – the original windows were much smaller that those of today. |
| 1967 | Mr Jack Mills bought Rainbow Springs. |
| 1972 | Rainbow Springs has become the premier springs in the district and captured much of the coach tour trade. |
| Nov 1973 | Chartwell Trust of Hamilton purchases both Rainbow and Fairy Springs. |
| 1975 | Nocturnal kiwi house built. |
| 1976 | Shop extensions and new administrative wing were completed. |
| 1977 | The restaurant is built an opened. |
| 1979 | Walkway between Rainbow and Fairy Springs was made to link the two parks and create one large attraction. |
| 1982 | The shop at Fairy Springs is closed. Building was subsequently transformed into a freshwater aquarium and vivarium. This closed in 1990. |
| 1985 | Out front, the new toilet block provided much needed improved facilities including wheelchair access. |
| Oct 1985 | The walk-through aviary officially opened for traffic. |
| Oct 1986 | Rainbow Farm opened to the public. |
| 1990 | Enlarged souvenir shop is built at Rainbow Springs, officially opened on 24 April 1991. |
| Aug 1992 | The Information and Booking Centre and Photo Shop is built and opened. |
| 1994 | New Underwater viewer completed and opened to the public. |
| Late 1995 | Shotover Jet Ltd, based in Queenstown, purchases Rainbow and Rainbow farm Show. |
| Nov 1998 | Restaurant leased to Spotless Services Ltd – for period of three years. |
| Dec 1998 | New entrance developed at Rainbow Springs. |
| Oct 1999 | Rainbow World of Bees featuring ‘Wall of Bees’ located within the Rainbow Farm shop. |
| Nov 1999 | Redevelopment of Kiwi Static Display. |
| Dec 1999 | Information Centre and Photo Shop closed and replaced by a café. |
| 2003 | World of Bees closes. |
| Sept 2003 | New Free-flight aviary opened to the public. Restaurant closed. |
| Nov 2003 | Rainbow Farm Show is sold to Steve and Judy Collins, renamed as the New Zealand Farm Show. |
| Feb 2004 | Eurest takes over catering contract of the Café. |
| Apr 21 2004 | Opening of Kiwi Encounter, New Zealand’s first & only ‘open to view’ kiwi hatchery and rearing facility. |
| Oct 2005 | 300th kiwi chick hatched at Rainbow Springs and Kiwi Encounter since commencing kiwi egg rearing in 1995. |
| Oct 2005 | Rainbow Springs opens for night visits under an array of spectacular coloured lighting. |
| Nov 2005 | Rainbow Springs Retail Shop & Customer Services area complete a $33k refurbishment. |
| Mar 2006 | Rainbow Springs commence a night combo with neighbouring Mitai Maori Cultural Experience. |
| June 2006 | Kiwi Encounters Gift shop closed down. |
| Aug 2006 | The National Kiwi Trust was established to provide sustainability and growth to the Kiwi Encounter attraction and Save the Kiwi Operation. |
| Sept 2006 | Rainbow Springs takes over catering of the Café and employs their own staff – redevelopment of the café was undertaken and completed over the next year. |
| Oct 2006 | Rainbow Springs wins Best Hospitality & Tourism Attraction and overall Business of the Year in the Westpac Rotorua Business Awards. |
| Nov 2006 | Memorandum of Understanding signed with Agrodome Rotorua. |
| May 2007 | New aviary developed for North Island Kaka and resident Kea. |
| Oct 2007 | 500th kiwi chick hatched at Rainbow Springs and Kiwi Encounter since commencing kiwi egg rearing in 1995. |
| Dec 2007 | Rainbow Springs celebrates 75th anniversary. |
| May 2008 | Park Lighting extended to Entrance and a new perimeter fence installed |
| Nov 2008 | New pool and waterfall development commences in what was the old coach parking area |
| Mar 2009 | 700th kiwi chick hatches at Rainbow Springs' Kiwi Encounter (since commencing in 1995) |
| Dec 2009 | Waterfall Lakes opens to the public, along with Wairere Cafe. Heritage walkway now extends into a loop to finish in the new area. |