Chapter is Government Policy and Maori Reaction, 1880–1890

diggers however are the Natives who are interested in the lands, and, who still exercise the right and have all the advantages of ownership, it is difficult to see what has been gained by the large sums of money paid."111

While Lewis did not believe that the area was worth any more expenditure, he emphasised that it was 'very undesirable to leave the matter in its present condition,' and proposed that a Government officer initiate negotiations to bring the Piako lands into court.

Over the next months the Government worked towards getting Ngati Paoa's consent for the land to be put through the court. A number of issues were involved in the following negotiations: the status of the lands falling within the confiscation boundary but still occupied by members of Ngati Paoa and subject to an agreement between Tarapipipi Te Kopara and Pollen in the early 1870s (discussed in Volume 4, in the context of the confiscation); the parameters of that agreement; the nature and size of the debt owed by Ngati Paoa and how this should be allocated against the land.

Responsibility for the Maori side of negotiations was taken by the Native Committee. Waata Tipa and Te Whetuiti (Wi Kerei) represented Ngati Paoa and referred proposals back to the communities effected. The Native Committee met with a series of Crown ministers and officials—Mitchelson, Stevens, and Lewis—in 1888–1889. It was soon clear, however, that Ngati Paoa did not have sufficient land to meet the debt accumulated on it at the original prices set down by the deed. In face of this unpalatable fact, the Crown could not insist on the strict terms of the deed signed in September 1874—the alienation of the whole block of 200,000 acres for sums ranging from 6d to 3/- per acre depending on quality.112

In December 1889 Mitchelson proposed that an area of 120,000 acres, exclusive of the area promised to be set aside for 'returned rebels', should transfer to the Government, calculated at the price of 2/6d. The Committee returned with their proposals which were presented in a series of meetings, first with Stevens, and then with Lewis of the Native Department in April. Attending on various days were Mackay and a gathering of people described as 'the Ngatipaoa tribe—representing Ngatihako, Hingawaka, Urikaraka, Ngatihura and Ngatipaoa hapus.'113 The area offered in satisfaction of the debt (Kopuatai no. 3 and 3A, subject to a reserve) was flatly rejected by the Government as inadequate. A counter-proposal was made by Lewis: that a total of 64,674 acres be transferred out of proposed subdivisions, in five blocks (including Kopuatai, and two blocks claimed by Ngati Maru.)114 The meeting adjourned for a week so that the people at Te Hoe-o-Tainui could be consulted. It was agreed there that an additional area commencing at Patatai and comprising Te Kohukohu and Mohonui (5,000 acres) might transfer to the Crown.

111 Lewis memo. for Native Minister, 28 September 1888. MLP 88/229 in MA 13/64 (b). Doc. 4, p. 41.

112 For copy of deed see NLP 89/262 in ibid.

113 See Notes of several meetings held with the Ngati Paoa Natives ... representing the purchase of Piako, p.6. NLP 89/48 in ibid. Doc. 4, p. 49.

114 Ibid., p. 9. Doc. 4, p. 53.

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