Smith Family History

Smith Family Legacy

Reginald and Violet Smith purchased a piece of land within the Te Wairoa Valley in 1931, leasing further plots of land from Tūhourangi on which to farm. Reg, an accountant, biked daily to his accountancy practice in Rotorua, while Vi renovated and reopened the Te Wairoa tearooms which had been closed for 20 years. With their sons Basil and Dudley, the family began excavating some of the 60 sites buried beneath rock, ash and mud.

By the 1950's, Dudley Smith was managing the Buried Village, which incorporated the Tarawera Lakes District’s Post Office and General Store. Dudley and his wife Nora rebuilt the facilities in 1977, modelling it on the Terraces Hotel, which was once part of Te Wairoa village.

The Buried Village today

Today, the Buried Village is managed by Pam (Dudley’s daughter), and her son David and his wife Amanda. They have continued the tradition of developing this unique attraction; enhancing the Museum of Te Wairoa, giving back to the land through sustainable practices like tree planting and pest control, and maintaining the integrity of the archaeological sites.

For over 90 years, the Buried Village has preserved, showcased and interpreted the stories behind the village of Te Wairoa and the eruption of Mount Tarawera in 1886. It is now New Zealand's most visited archaeological site. We look forward to preserving this family legacy for many years to come.