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Kōrero: 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.

Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi

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.

Ngā whakaahua me ngā rauemi katoa o tēnei kōrero

Me pēnei te tohu i te whārang

Kerryn Pollock, King Country region – Te Rohe Pōtae, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/mi/zoomify/34854/turning-the-first-sod-1885 (accessed 24 June 2026).

He kōrero nā Kerryn Pollock, i tāngia i te 6 December 2011, updated 1 March 2015.

Comments

Catherine Pioletti
03 December 2016
Actually the ancient boundary is further north closer to Hamilton. Much of the Waipa belonged to Ngati Maniapoto Hapu of Kaputuhi, Hinetu, Paretekawa, Huiao, Paiariki, and others. These hapu have been disenfranchised by the Waikato Tainui Settlement and have recieved no compensation or land back todate.