Locals made to pay to visit Ohinemutu

Visitors to the oldest settlement in Rotorua are to be charged to visit the historic site from today.
Ohinemutu Village on the shores of Lake Rotorua includes Te Arawa's most important meeting house of Tamatekapua, St Faith's Anglican church and the burial site of many important Te Arawa tipuna (ancestors).
From today newly-formed Ohinemutu Village Tours will take over the running of the site and will ask visitors and locals alike to pay a gold coin to enter - more if they want a guided tour.
Not everyone is happy about it, with one leading historian raising serious concerns and a number of Te Arawa kaumatua saying they were unaware of the plans.
Ohinemutu Village Tours managing director Shaloh Mitere said the purpose of the venture was to restore the mana of Ngati Whakaue and Te Arawa's most important meeting house, Tamatekapua.
"It's also about educating and informing visitors about the real history of the site."
He said concerns had also been raised about out-of-town tour operators charging people to visit the site and not passing anything on to the village.
"We have put some control measures in place, we are in no way going to put up a fence trying to keep people out," Mr Mitere said.
But Rotorua historian Don Stafford said he was concerned the move to charge visitors went against the wishes of highly-respected Ngati Whakaue kaumatua Henry Taiporutu Mitchell.
"It's a historic move. It was his absolute conviction that Ohinemutu was a place where people could enjoy themselves and there should not be a charge for people to visit the area.
"He was adamant about that."
Mr Stafford said he did not object to tour operators being charged to take busloads of people to the site but did object to everyday visitors and locals having to pay to enter.
Mr Mitere said he had spoken to Mr Stafford about his ancestor's wishes but felt times had changed.
"Some tour operators have no respect for the marae, this is our way of ensuring respect continues," Mr Mitere said.
Rotorua deputy mayor and Ohinemutu resident Trevor Maxwell said he was unaware of the project until yesterday but was relaxed about it as he watched thousands of tourists visit each year.
 Mr Mitere said he had heard of tour guides charging people to boil eggs in local hot pools and one guide who dressed up as a priest and held his own sermon in St Faith's Church.
The church's vicar Tom Poata said there needed to be some sort of management and locals needed to cover maintenance costs.
Te Arawa kaumatua spoken to by The Daily Post were in favour of fees but few knew about it until spoken to by The Daily Post.
Last year the Rotorua District Council was considering upgrading the entranceway into the village. No cost was set but plans were underway to consult residents.
SCHEDULE OF FEES Adult guided tour $30, locals (with ID) $10 or $5 with a paying guest Child guided tour $15, locals (with ID) $5 (4 years and under free) Family guided tour (2 adults, 2 children) $70, locals $20 (with ID) Senior citizens (NZ and AUS) $15, War veterans and partners $10 Otherwise, entry is by gold coin (without guided tour)