Story: King Country region

Turning the first sod, 1885

In 1882 Ngāti Maniapoto agreed to a survey for the main trunk railway line through Te Rohe Pōtae (the King Country). This was a major turning point in relations between the tribe and the government, and was the key which unlocked the region to Pākehā settlement. This photograph captures the ceremonial turning of the first sod on 15 April 1885. This took place on the southern bank of the Pūniu River – the northern boundary of Ngāti Maniapoto territory, and thus a symbolic location. The man in the top hat to the right in front of the umbrella is Ngāti Maniapoto leader Rewi Maniapoto. The tall man in the top hat in the middle of the front row between the two drooping flags is another tribal leader, Wahanui Huatare. Premier Robert Stout stands on the end of the plank, to the right of the man in the light-coloured coat.

The wheelbarrow in the foreground is on display in the Otorohanga Historical Society Court House Museum.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, D. M. Beere Collection
Reference: 1/2-096208; G

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

All images & media in this story

How to cite this page:

Kerryn Pollock, 'King Country region - Te Rohe Pōtae', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/zoomify/34854/turning-the-first-sod-1885 (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Kerryn Pollock, updated 1 Mar 2015