Manaakitanga
A Historical tale of Hospitality
The Lake Tauo region has enjoyed a history for fine hospitality dating to pre european times. In those days groups of travelling warriors were welcomed with open arms. Even warriors known to be hostile were given a bed for the night, food and a hot swim before being encouraged to move on the next day. Early european travellers, consisting of surveyos, botanists, traders and adventurers were similarly treated. 
Taupo, and to a lesser extent Tokaanu, became known stopovers and resting places. The European settlement of Taupo began in 1869 when the Armed Constabulary established a small military post here during the unsettled years of the New Zealand Wars. A local service industry slowly developed to supply the constabulary. General stores, a blacksmith were among the first businesses to be established. The town's first hotels soon followed including the Spa Hotel (early 1870s), the Lake Hotel (1878), Wairakei Hotel (1880) and The Terraces Hotel (1889) as visitors were drawn to the area, curious to experience the wonders of the Hot Lakes District.
The 1886 eruption of Mt Tarawera, the creation of Tongariro National Park and tales of geyers, hot bathing pools and bubbling hot pools, places like Orakei Korako and Wairakei's Geyser Valley captured the traveller's imagination. By 1885, the military era was over, and the redoubt disbanded, but the tiny town of Taupo had made it onto the world map. In the early 1900s, Taupo once again gained international attention, this time for its splendid trout fishing following the successful introduction of Rainbow and Brown trout into the streams and lakes of the region.
There was no electricity or reticulated water and these factors combined with the very dusty unpaved pumice streets ensured it was not a home for the fainthearted! These days, it seems hard to believe the central North island was once considered 'the remotest interior' but the population figures for Taupo town say it all. Only about 100 people lived here in 1900 and by 2000 the Taupo township population had grown to just over 21,000.