Govt. Buys Station On East Coast

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30943, 27 December 1965, Page 3

Govt. Buys Station On East Coast

New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, Dec. 26

The Government has bought the 10,000acre Waipari Station on the East Coast as part of its plan to stimulate economic development of the region. The station will be taken over immediately.

Earlier this year, after a > review of the district’s econr omy and representations from the East Coast Development Research Association, the i Government made £230,000 ; available to the Department of Lands and Survey and

Maori Affairs to encourage land development. Waipari Station is the first property to be bought by the Department of Lands and Survey with this finance. The station. 12 miles north of Tolaga Bay, at Anaura Bay. consists of mainly easy-to-steep hills in varying classes of pasture. The Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) said development would take time and it was likely to be at least 15 years before five sheep units were ready for settlement. Although the property is well situated and has a large potential for development, the western side of it presents a problem because it includes a large area of waste land with poor access and ho [suitable house site.

Mr Holyoake said that aerial top-dressing and oversowing of the reverted and easier scrub-covered land could begin now.

“The department is confident it can handle the proposition,” he said. “Along with additional development of Maori land being undertaken or financed by the Department of Maori Affairs, this purchase will assist in bringing about a much needed increase in production in the region.”