Dorothy Huhana “Bubbles” Mihinui

Tourist Industry

Dorothy Hūhana Mihinui, better known as “Guide Bubbles”, was born in 1919 and became a registered guide at Whakarewarewa in 1938. Tuhourangi Rangatira Mita Taupopoki chose Bubbles as a guide and Guide Bella Papakura became her teacher.

In this excerpt Bubbles talks about early days of guiding, and some of the things you didn’t tell the tour groups!

Collection reference 42786
Year 1994
Credits Interviewer: Puhi Rangiaho

Tradition, Hot Springs and Weaving

During her time at Whakarewarewa Bubbles developed an encyclopaedic knowledge of Māori customs and protocol, kapa haka and flax weaving. In this excerpt she talks about utilising the geothermal resources at Whakarewarewa.

Collection reference 42786
Year 1994
Credits Interviewer: Puhi Rangiaho

Geysers

Here Bubbles shares some of her extensive knowledge of Te Ao Māori, explaining correct protocols at the ngāwhā and why it is important not to mix cooking, cleaning and bathing.

Collection reference 42786
Year 1994
Credits Interviewer: Puhi Rangiaho

Guiding Tourists

As a Guide at Whakarewarewa Bubbles hosted numerous dignitaries, but she regarded each visitor as a VIP! Her guiding philosophy was based around letting visitors see and experience Māori culture for themselves.

Hers was a distinguished career during which she received many accolades, including becoming a Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2002 and in 2004, she was awarded the Sir Kingi Ihaka Award for her services to tourism.

Here she recalls fond memories of her guiding life.

Collection reference 42786
Year 1994
Credits Interviewer: Puhi Rangiaho

Māori Arts and Crafts Institute

As her guiding philosophy was to let visitors see and experience Māori culture for themselves, Bubbles was not concerned by the length of time a tour of Whakarewarewa and the Māori Arts & Crafts Institute might take. This wasn’t a philosophy shared by all and in this clip she talks about the pressure to hurry tours.

Collection reference 42786
Year 1994
Credits Interviewer: Puhi Rangiaho

Early Leaders of NZMACI

Bubbles talks about Pakeke Leonard and other leaders at NZMACI, along with the future of guiding.

Collection reference 42786
Year 1994
Credits Interviewer: Puhi Rangiaho