Polynesian Spa

'''Polynesian Spa''' is a developed [[geothermal]] [[spa]] facility in [[Rotorua]], [[North Island]], [[New Zealand]]. Local [[Māori people|Māori]] acclaimed the therapeutic benefits of the water and bathed for centuries in the acidic pool 'Te Pupunitanga', now called Priest’s Bath. [[Europe]]an thermal bathing history at Polynesian Spa began in 1878 when a Catholic Priest named Father Mahoney bathed regularly in the thermal spring water of hand dug pools where Polynesian Spa is now located on the shores of [[Lake Rotorua]]. Over several months his [[arthritis]] was greatly alleviated, initiating an international reputation for the therapeutic properties of the hot mineral spring water.{{citation needed|date=November 2010}} The first [[bath house]] on site, the Pavilion Bath House opened in 1882, followed by the Ward Baths in 1931. Early bath houses on the site were government-run, the Pavilion Bath, the Duchess Bath, named for the Duchess of Cornwall and York who visited in 1901 and the Ward Baths, named for an early New Zealand Prime Minister, Sir [[Joseph Ward]], who had a passion for thermal waters. In 1902 [[Mary MacKillop]] or [[Saint Mary of the Cross]] came to [[Rotorua]] to seek treatment in the therapeutic waters of the Duchess Bath. On March 16 [[Mary MacKillop|Mother Mary MacKillop]] wrote ''"I feel the baths are doing me good. The [[rheumatism]] in my knees is becoming less and I can walk easily now... This is such a nice private house. We have had a priest resident here most of the time..."'' In 1972, the government of the day leased the Ward Baths to Polynesian Pools Limited and the spa is now known as the Polynesian Spa. == External links == * [http://www.polynesianspa.co.nz/ Polynesian Spa website] {{coord missing|New Zealand}}