Kōrero: Land ownership

This map shows the planned land holdings around the New Zealand Company settlement of Whanganui, in 1842. The intention was to create a society of small independent landowners. However, the realities of Māori land ownership and rough terrain made it impossible to establish this neat arrangement of small farmers. The very straight roads, ignoring the hilly terrain around Whanganui, demonstrate the plan’s lack of realism.