was introduced again in 1862 were frustrated when Fenton's Native Land Court judgment of 1868 made the land inalienable. In 1882 an Act of Parliament unconditionally reserved the block for its Maori owners. The Maori hold on Orakei seemed secure. In 1908, however, an act was passed to consolidate Maori land legislation and it was found that this had the effect of repealing the section of the 1882 Act bearing on Orakei. A syndicate of European speculators then tried to buy the land and at the urgent request of the City Council the Government stepped in. Instead of passing legislation to make Orakei inalienable once more the Government started to purchase it. The individual Maori interests were gradually purchased over the next 30 years and virtually all the 700 acres was acquired by the Crown. Much of the land was sold off to Europeans and the portions overlooking the harbour have become Auckland's most fashionable suburb. The transactions on Maori land should not be considered abnormal. Europeans regarded land as a commodity to be bought at the cheapest price and sold at the dearest. It was to be expected that the Government and European settlers would treat Maori land in this fashiion. To speculate with it was good business and a way of making money. And land speculation, plus the expansion of commerce helped European settlers to get established. European merchants offered Maoris an opportunity to trade and European farmers were willing to employ Maori labour. Maoris still had a chance to adapt themselves to European civilisation.

LEARNING THE ARTS OF CAPITALISM Maoris were quick to take advantage of trading opportunities after 1840. It was some years before European farming got established around Auckland and there was an eager demand for Maori-grown produce. There was a gradual influx of tribal groups into surrounding districts. By 1843 Orakei and Remuera land was being cultivated by Ngatipaoa as well as Ngatiwhatua. Groups of the Waikato tribes moved north to cultivate at Mangere, and the land given to them by Apihai te Kawau at Onehunga and Remuera. A Maori mart was established on the waterfront at Commercial View from One Tree Hill over Orakei, the last foothold of the ancient Maori in Auckland. This land came on the market after 1908 when the sales prohibition was removed. (Photo: Robin Wood)