FROM CRAYFISH TO WOOL

Te Ao Hou, May 1957, Page 34

FROM CRAYFISH TO WOOL The history of Lake Rotoiti goes back to Ihenga, one of whose dogs discovered the lake when chasing a kiwi, not long after the landing of the Arawa canoe. The dog dived into the water of the lake, ate some fish and freshwater crayfish, caught the kiwi and returned to its master carrying the kiwi in its mouth. Then it vomited up the raw fish and crayfish. Ihenga, led by the dog, then found the lake. Shoals of inanga were leaping on the water. Ihenga named the lake ‘Te roto iti kite a Ihenga,’ thus claiming it as a possession for his children. It is a long story, still known to the elders, from Ihenga to European times, and as the nineteenth century ended the shores of Lake Rotoiti were still covered with dense forest as in pre-pakeha days. A number of fine carved houses still surrounded the lake, one of them being the meeting house at Mourea belonging to Pokiha Taranui, Major Fox, one of the celebrities of the time. Much of the Maori land was leased and sold around the end of the nineteenth century, while the Ngati Pikiao's own farming was on a very limited scale. Generous haystack at Tautara, the latest of the Ngati Pikiao incorporations. (PHOTO: PETER BLANC)

Rams on the property of Mr T. R. Kingi, Ahuwhenua Trophy winner for Sheep, 1956, came in for much praise from the competition judge. (PHOTO: PETER BLANC) In the nineteen twenties, the Arawa Trust Board advanced money to twelve people to help them improve their farms. However, advances could not be on a scale that would really place these properties on a good financial basis. The people then formed an incorporation with Messrs H. Tai Mitchell, Morehu Te Kiri Kiri and Peti Tareha as a committee of management, and this committee continued development with a loan from the Waiariki Maori Land Board. Everyone participated in the work of clearing and grassing, without much thought of who the owners were of any particular part, and the work proceeded for some years before money was again exhausted. The full development of the 11,462 acres of Taheke 3D and the other blocks was far beyond the means of the Waiariki Maori Land Board. It was then that the land was brought under the State development scheme, which allowed the work to proceed, with the gradual adding of new Maori land and some purchased blocks as time went on. In 1953 the Department of Maori Affairs, handed back Taheke and Okere Blocks to the Maori owners. By that time, their value was thought to be over £200,000 and they were free of debt. In fact some £30,000 cash credits had accumulated. The blocks were also fully stocked. Part of the cash was paid direct to beneficiaries while the rest was held to help the new incorporations in their first year's farming operations. However, the incorporations formed in 1953 were very different from the one which started development thirty years ago. Whereas in those days there was one incorporation for all the people, now there are five: Taheke. Pukahukiwi, Okere, Waerenga and Te Karaka. Two out of the five have managers who are themselves owners in the blocks. The rest have European managers. Instead of communal enterprises, these farms are now entirely run on business lines, earning profits for the owners, who in most of the blocks number several hundreds. Peter Whata, manager of Te Karaka and secretary of the Taheke Incorporation, told us that this is the form of incorporation, most suited to modern circumstances. He thinks separating the scheme into five incorporations was wise, as each family group now has its own station to administer. It

made for harmony among all. Many incorporations today are able to make use of the administrative training of some younger members of their tribe to whom responsibility can be handed over. One of these younger helpers is Mr Bert Kingi, secretary of the Okere Incorporation. (PHOTO: PETER BLANC) However, the spirit of co-operation is by no means dead. On our second visit to Rotoiti we found Peter Whata, with at least twenty others between the ages of five and fifty at the Taheke Incorporation's woolshed, helping to sort out the fat lambs. In charge was the chairman of the incorporation. Mr Mapu Morehu, who described the station's policy to us. It was to develop about 130 acres of new land each year, and as far as possible to breed their own sheep and cattle. Once the fat lambs were selected, the rest were held to be sold as hoggets. All the best of the ewe lambs were kept for breeding. We asked Mr Morehu whether he thought the future of all the young people we saw on the station was on their ancestral land. ‘If you have a trade or profession, then go to town,’ said Mr Morehu, ‘but if you will be a labourer, then stay in the country. Naturally, however, education and business ability are essential for those who manage and own farms.’ The Rotoiti incorporations give a good deal to the younger people, appointing them, for instance, to posts of responsibility in the administration. Secretary of Okere incorporation is Bert Kingi, a young public servant, appointed for his administrative experience, although there is a large number of older owners. Undoubtedly this policy will help to provide future leaders for Ngati Pikiao.