A Te Arawa kuia says the famous tourist village of Whakarewarewa in Rotorua has lost its vibrancy because many families have moved out.
The geothermal village has been the home of the Ngati Wahiao and Tuhourangi people for more than 200 years.
One person who grew up there in the 1930s, Kāterina Daniels, says she's saddened that many families have moved to other parts of Rotorua.
She says one reason is because of geothermal changes that have damaged homes while another reason has been overcrowding in the small village houses.
Government legislation was enacted in 1947 put a stop to overcrowding for health and safety reasons.
