{{Short description|Heritage building in New Zealand}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=January 2023}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2023}} {{Infobox building | name = Blue Baths | native_name = | native_name_lang = | former_names = | alternate_names = | awards = | image = Blue Baths in Rotorua 02.jpg | image_alt = | image_size = | image_caption = | location = {{Coord|38|08|10|S|176|15|27|E|display=inline,title}} | address = Government Gardens | location_city = Rotorua | location_country = New Zealand | coordinates = | altitude = | status = Temporarily closed | groundbreaking_date = | construction_start_date = | completion_date = | opened_date = | inauguration_date = | demolished_date = | architect = John Thomas Mair | landlord = | owner = | cost = | floor_area = | top_floor = | floor_count = | embed = | embedded = {{designation list|embed=yes|designation1=NZ Category I|designation1_number=[https://www.heritage.org.nz/list-details/5394/Blue%20Baths 5394]|designation1_date=25 June 1992}} | references = | pushpin_map = | pushpin_map_alt = | map_caption = | pushpin_label = | pushpin_relief = | building_type = | architectural_style = Spanish Mission style | structural_system = Reinforced concrete | client = | current_tenants = | height = | architectural = | tip = | antenna_spire = | roof = | observatory = | other_dimensions = | seating_type = | seating_capacity = | elevator_count = | architecture_firm = | structural_engineer = | services_engineer = | civil_engineer = | other_designers = | quantity_surveyor = | main_contractor = | designations = | ren_architect = | renovation_date = | ren_awards = | ren_firm = | ren_cost = | ren_str_engineer = | ren_serv_engineer = | ren_civ_engineer = | ren_oth_designers = | ren_qty_surveyor = | ren_engineer = | ren_contractor = | logo = | logo_size = | logo_alt = | logo_caption = | pushpin_mapsize = | etymology = | classification = | closing_date = | affiliation = | cancelled = | topped_out = | topped_out_date = | namesake = | relocated_date = | diameter = | circumference = | weight = | material = | size = | grounds_area = | developer = | engineer = | known_for = Geothermal baths | number_of_rooms = | footnotes = | url = <!-- {{URL|example.com}} --> }}
The '''Blue Baths''' is a heritage geothermal baths building in Rotorua, in the North Island of New Zealand. The building is designed in the Spanish Mission style. It is listed as a Category 1 Historic Place by Heritage New Zealand.
The first Blue Baths at the Government Gardens site were opened in 1886, and stood for over 40 years before being demolished in 1932 when the present building was constructed alongside.<ref>{{Cite web |date=31 October 1932 |title=Historic Rotorua Bath - Demolition Proceeding - Opened 40 years ago |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MS19321031.2.36 |access-date=2023-01-07 |website= |publisher=Manawatu Standard |via=Papers Past |archive-date=7 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230107215122/https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MS19321031.2.36 |url-status=live }}</ref>
Construction of the new building was well advanced by August 1932.<ref>{{Cite web |date=30 August 1932 |title=Rotorua Blue Bath - Progress on New Building |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19320830.2.102 |access-date=2023-01-07 |website= |publisher=New Zealand Herald |via=Papers Past |archive-date=7 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230107215111/https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19320830.2.102 |url-status=live }}</ref>
On 26 January 2021, the Blue Baths was closed to the public after a seismic assessment found the building met only 15 percent of the strength requirements for new buildings.<ref>{{Cite web |date=12 April 2021 |title=Blue Baths, Queens Drive, Government Gardens, Rotorua - Detailed Seismic Assessment Report |url=https://www.rotorualakescouncil.nz/repository/libraries/id:2e3idno3317q9sihrv36/hierarchy/our-council/officialinformation/oia2021/28-May-2021-Blue%20Baths%2C%20Queens%20Drive%2C%20Government%20Gardens%2C%20Rotorua%20-%20DSA%20Report.pdf |publisher=Tonkin + Taylor |via=Rotorua Lakes Council |access-date=7 January 2023 |archive-date=10 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230110184746/https://www.rotorualakescouncil.nz/repository/libraries/id:2e3idno3317q9sihrv36/hierarchy/our-council/officialinformation/oia2021/28-May-2021-Blue%20Baths%2C%20Queens%20Drive%2C%20Government%20Gardens%2C%20Rotorua%20-%20DSA%20Report.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Desmarais |first=Felix |date=2023-01-07 |title=Rotorua's Blue Baths left in a 'staggering' state after closure |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/482039/rotorua-s-blue-baths-left-in-a-staggering-state-after-closure |access-date=2023-01-07 |website=RNZ |language=en-nz |archive-date=7 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230107072322/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/482039/rotorua-s-blue-baths-left-in-a-staggering-state-after-closure |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=30 June 2021 |title=Detailed Seismic Assessment completed on Rotorua Blue Baths |url=https://www.rotorualakescouncil.nz/our-council/news/news?item=id:2ek7yco3q1cxbyy2o51v |access-date=2023-01-07 |publisher=Rotorua Lakes Council |archive-date=7 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230107212201/https://www.rotorualakescouncil.nz/our-council/news/news?item=id:2ek7yco3q1cxbyy2o51v |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=25 August 2022 |title=Blue Baths update |url=https://www.rotorualakescouncil.nz/our-council/news/news?item=id:2j78pv8zf17q9s67wvu8 |access-date=2023-01-07 |publisher=Rotorua Lakes Council |archive-date=7 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230107212154/https://www.rotorualakescouncil.nz/our-council/news/news?item=id:2j78pv8zf17q9s67wvu8 |url-status=live }}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == {{commons category|Blue Baths}} * [https://www.heritage.org.nz/list-details/5394/Blue%20Baths Blue Baths] at Heritage New Zealand * [https://natlib.govt.nz/records/23063926 Blue Baths in 1930's tourism brochure] at Alexander Turnbull Library * [https://bluebaths.co.nz/ The Blue Baths Establishment] former leaseholder
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Category:Buildings and structures in Rotorua Category:Heritage New Zealand Category 1 historic places in the Bay of Plenty Region Category:Mission Revival architecture in New Zealand