Vintage footage of Whakarewarewa found at US garage sale

Four young women in the film are believed to have been Whakarewarewa guides.

Amazing archival footage of Rotorua and surrounding areas has been discovered recently at a garage sale in San Jose, California.

American historian Rick Helin has released the footage in the hope that New Zealanders can help him solve the mystery of who shot the vintage vacation footage.

The footage offers a snapshot into life in Rotorua in 1940, and shows soldiers marching, as well as popular attractions like Pohutu Geyser, Lake Tarawera, Fairy Springs, Whakarewarewa Village and Waimangu.

Shots of children in Whakarewarewa Village feature heavily, some of whom are likely to still be alive.

IS THIS YOU?: Stills from the film of 1940 Whakarewarewa Village where local children feature heavily.

Rotorua's John Waaka enjoyed watching the film and said there were some familiar faces in it.

"I know some of them, I can recognise their family face, but I just can't remember their names," he said.

Many of the shots in the film show scenes and activities you can still do today, including a steam box, he said.

"We still cook like that," he said.

Mr Waaka said there would be a few people in Rotorua who could help solve the mystery and was keen to show them the footage, which also brought back fond memories of his childhood growing up in the village.

The footage also includes fascinating scenes of Auckland in the 1940s: trams travelling along Queen St, school children walking along the streets with fish and chips and ice cream and a panoramic view of the suburbs surrounding Mt Eden.

The sightseer also filmed people playing cricket at Auckland Domain, Ellerslie Racetrack and the Botanic Gardens.

Mr Helin said although the 16mm films were in very poor condition, the footage was converted digitally by the preservation department of The California Pioneers of Santa Clara County.

IS THIS YOU?: Stills from the film of 1940 Whakarewarewa Village where local children feature heavily.

"This unknown photographer and his wife travelled throughout the Pacific region; including the North and South Islands of New Zealand. We are hoping, by some wild chance, someone in New Zealand might be able to help provide the identity of this unknown visitor from California back in prewar 1940.

"Perhaps someone in New Zealand can recall a visitor staying in their home, or making contact with him," he said.

The traveller also filmed their journey through Wellington and Christchurch.

Anybody with any information about the unknown traveller can contact rickhelin@aol.com.