Provenance:
Collection of Remuera Club
Formally Commerce Club, Auckland
Thought to have been in the collection for over 70 years

Te Tarata - the tattooed rock - The White Terrace
The White Terraces were at the north end of Lake Rotomahana and faced away from the lake at the entrance to the Kaiwaka Stream. They descended to the lake edge forty metres below. The additional sunlight received from facing north created their bleached white appearance. The White Terrace was the larger of the two formation, covering in excess of three hectares. They are reportedly the largest silica sinter deposits on earth.

Mrs Howard Vincent recalls seeing the White Terraces for the first time in The Colonist, 3 March 1886.

At last we could see them in their general outline -a silica formation of white terraces in circular steps. We thought it disappointing ; but not openly allowing so, we waded through the lukewarm water, about an inch deep, and stood at the bottom of Te Tarata, or the White Terrace. At the first step we came to we were 'petrified ' with delight for a moment. Set in a basin of pure white silica, delicately carved and fretted, lay a pool of pale blue water, so pure in colour,'so opaque in substance. I wish I could convey to the sight of those who read this the merest reflection of that, heavenly colour, that pale tint found nowhere else upon earth. As we climbed upwards we saw terrace upon terrace, with each circular brim hanging with beautiful stalactites and sponge and coral formation. The sun, shining through the lace-like fringe on the coral-tipped edges set forth a hundred reflections, and we were dazzled by the snowy whiteness of the silica. The water percolates and trickles gently over the petrified drapery of each little cup and basin, each drop leaving its tiny deposit of silica, which in the course of ages has formed the terrace. Papers Past, National Library of New Zealand