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