History of Tiroa E Block in King Country

Tu Tangata, Issue 4, 1 February 1982, Page 24

History of Tiroa E Block in King Country

_ , .cm,. i . „ .ii Development ot Tiroa commenced m 1957 With the owners contributing 5128 hectares of land worth $11,170. Today the station has a nett value of five and a half million dollars and has paid annual dividends of SIOO,OOO in the last three seasons.

In 1969 the Waipa sub-block of 2260 hectares was established as the Tiroa unit had become too large. On the 1360 hectares of grassland, 8000 ewes, 4000 other sheep, 400 breeding cows and 500 other cattle were carried. It was at this stage that the present farm manager, Bonny Philips was appointed.

Further expansion

In the 1976 a further 268 hectares of grassland was taken from the Tiroa main block, with the further development of bush and scrub land giving the Waipa block 1805 hectares. Last year it wintered ten thousand ewes, five thousand other sheep, 530 breeding cows and 870 other cattle. Lambing on Waipa has consistently been above 100 percent with sheep deaths at 4.5 percent and wool production last season at 78,500 kilos. On July 1,1981 the Tiroa E Block was returned to the owners under the jurisdiction of the following trustees: Mr Koro Wetere MP chairman, Mr Kingi Hetet secretary, Mr Huatahi Mahuri, Mr Pai Tutaki, Mr George Tutaki, Mr John Tutaki, Mr P Pehikino and Mr G.D. Carter, solicitor.

The Department of Maori Affairs is presently providing farm management advice assistance. Split block As the total area of grass on the Tiroa E Block has been increased to 4400 hectares and a further 150 hectares is under development, the Trustees have decided to split the block up into three units. This move coincides with the impending retirement of Mr Ken Addenbrooke, who has been the principal farm manager since the block’s inception. This split into three units will allow more efficient use of pasture and employment of additional labour. It is planned to carry 27500 ewes,

8500 other sheep, 1400 breeding cows and 1470 other cattle by July 1 1984.

Training ground

As Tiroa is a large scale enterprise it creates an excellent training ground for young shepherds, and it was to allow this that a hostel was purchased from the New Zealand Dairy Company at Tirau and relocated on the Tiroa Block. It’s planned to be part of the training facilities for Maori youth. In the initial twelve months of owner control, the trustees’ aim is to ‘feel their way’, and consolidate the financial position of the block. The long term aim is to broaden the base of operations to enable greater use of the block’s equity for the well-being of the beneficial owners. This could entail ex-

panding into farm forestry, horticulture, tourism, and aquaculture. A deer unit has already been established on Waipa. In addition to the Tiroa E Block there is the adjoining Te Hape Block of 4487 hectares of which the existing 2600 hectares carries fifteen thousand ewes, 5600 other sheep, 800 breeding cows and 1190 other cattle. There’s also the Maraeroa C Block which has 5400 hectares planted in exotics under a joint programme with New Zealand Forest Products. Both these blocks have similar ownership to Tiroa E Block and it is possible that a large scale coordinated venture could ultimately result.