THE CROWN, THE TREATY, AND THE HAURAKI TRIBES, 1800-1885

Raihana

[pp. 204-208] Mackay made a 'down-payment' on mining fees to those sections within the tribe who were predisposed to opening Ohinemuri to mining, representing this as a payment for 'their lands only' in the face of strong opposition from a large segment of the right-holders. Mackay also encouraged 'non-selling' right-holders to run up debts on their lands within the area already opened, at Waikawau and Moehau, and to then draw on their interests in Ohinemuri. He facilitated this process by issuing orders for storekeepers, or redeeming such debts. Not only did this help to 'break down the barrier of exclusiveness set up by the King party' but the practice encouraged Maori to allow debt to accumulate on their lands, hiding the 'pit yawning' at their feet. Much of this activity was initially hidden undermining the ability of right-holders to exert community controls over others in the tribe. There were doubts whether full value for lands was received, partly because storekeepers inflated the price of goods when dealing with Maori and orders against land purchase. There was also considerable confusion over what interests had been signed away, since down-payments were made for undefined areas in huge blocks of up to 200,000 acres. Once debts were called in, those who had accepted the Government's 'raihana' were placed under pressure to make up outstanding amounts with lands elsewhere if it was found that they had insufficient interests in the blocks under negotiation first. In these years, the Crown deliberately fostered division amongst Maori resident at Hauraki, and took every advantage of the damage inflicted upon the tribal veto by the Native Land Acts to effect the purchase of either the sub-surface rights, or, where possible, the entire freehold. The course of this process has been discussed in detail with reference to Moehau, Waikawua, and Ohinemuri.

Purchase of the foreshore

[pp. 208-212; 215-225] The Crown, dissatisfied with the cession arrangements, and in an increasingly dominant position, shifted its policy in the 1870s, moving further away from acceptance of Maori right to keep the freehold of gold-bearing lands to increased insistence that such lands be purchased outright. The Crown now consistently tried to buy blocks (preferably keeping Maori ignorant of their mineral potential), and then bring them within the compass of mining legislation. The first example of this policy was that of the Kauaeranga foreshore 'purchase', discussed earlier in this summary. The Crown's acquisition of the Hikutaia-Whangamata blocks lying beyond the aukati at Omahu Stream and adjacent to Ohinemuri was considered a breakthrough by its agents, as shaking the position of those who insisted on keeping the interior closed. This was followed by further purchases of blocks on the eastern divide which then were brought within the compass of the Government's jurisdiction. Hauraki Maori were thus deliberately excluded from any ongoing participation in the profits of the mineral exploitation of those areas, while Government agents attempted to keep any discoveries on land still under native title quiet, so as not to push up its price.

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