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Story: Land ownership

Questions for land applicants

In 1899 the 48,000 acres (19,500 hectares) of the Waikakihi run was purchased by the government under the Land for Settlements Act 1894. When the land was divided up, ballot applicants were required to answer questions to ensure that the new owners would be capable family farmers.

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Archives New Zealand - Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga

Reference: LS-W 28 5-59 p. 74

Permission of Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga must be obtained before any re-use of this material.

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How to cite this page

Jim McAloon, Land ownership – The Liberals and land policy, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/zoomify/17932/questions-for-land-applicants (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Jim McAloon, published 1 March 2009.