From the time of Ngatoroirangi, Wairakei Terraces has been home to the people of Ngati Tuwharetoa. Their history is a mantle over this land. The stories of the land, water and fire , are their stories.

The therapeutic waters of Te Kiri o Hinekai have been used by Maori since pre-European times for healing and bathing. The waters soothed and healed the bodies and limbs of warriors and whanau (family) providing sustenance for the people.

In the 19th/20th Century its pools were touted as bathing and healing spa’s and used by tourists, affluent noblemen and women who came from all over the world to enjoy its soothing waters, testifying to its healing powers.

The main bathing pool ‘Te Kiri o Hinekai’, known later as the ‘Honeymoon Pool’ was closed in the 1960’s when the stream was diverted during construction of the Wairakei Geothermal Power Development.

In 1996 Contact Energy shared a vision with Jim Hill to establish a unique visitor attraction in the Waiora Valley at Wairakei. They discussed the viability of NETCOR (a private company focused on education and training) to establish a standout geothermal tour operation adjacent to the Wairakei Borefield.

This would be achieved by tapping fluid from the borefield and piping it to the property where the hot silica enriched waters would be channeled over man-made foundations creating natural silica terraces.

In November 2000 Contact Energy assisted NETCOR with reinstating the stream to its original bed allowing the thermal waters of Te Kiri O Hinekai to flow once again through the Waiora Valley. The first stage of tapping the fluid resource of the Wairakei Steamfield was completed.

Welcome to the world of Ruaumoko - the God of Volcanoes, where the Wairakei Terraces are in the throes of creation.

The NETCOR team working with Contact Energy, began the mammoth task of constructing the silica terraces in 2001.

Several hundred square metres of walls were dug to form header lakes and terrace pools. These walls were inverted in shape unlike the half domes of the Tarawera Pink and White terraces. An artificial lake, created after Contact Energy installed a pipeline from the borefield has water spouting upward from the depths creating the effect of an extremely powerful geyser.

Water from this lake spills over to join a second lake from which the water is channelled to the terraces. At this point there is a mix of hot and cold water at a temperature in which there will be rapid growth of silica. This creates the incredible colour differentiations of the terraces.

The development of these man-made Wairakei Terraces has been by trial and tribulation. We have started the job; we must now let Mother Nature take her course.