In 1937 several Mangatawa blocks, which included Mangatawa itself, and three Papamoa blocks were included in the Tauranga Development Scheme under Part I of the Native Land Amendment Act 1936. The aim was for the Department of Maori Affairs to develop the blocks into working farm units, which could then be farmed by selected owners.⁴ The blocks that made up the Mangatawa Papamoa Scheme were:⁵

In 1957, the Maori Affairs Department ceased to administer the lands in the development scheme, after the owners had agreed to taking over the scheme as an incorporation.⁶ In February 1968 the different blocks were amalgamated by the Maori Land Court into one unit, the Mangatawa Papamoa Block, which was to be administered by the Mangatawa-Papamoa Incorporation.⁷ In 1968 the total area of the block was 774 acres, 1 rood, 13.5 perches, and included:

Mangatawa 1,
Mangatawa 2B2B,
Mangatawa 3B2,
Mangatawa 4A2,
Mangatawa 4C,
Mangatawa 4D,
Mangatawa 4F,
Papamoa 2, section 8B2D,
Papamoa 2, section 7A2,
Papamoa 2, section 9B.⁸

As will be seen, the total area of the Mangatawa Papamoa block has since been reduced, as parts have been sold to meet the demand for residential housing in the area, and land has been acquired for public works.

⁴ For more detail on the development schemes in general, and the Mangatawa/Papamoa scheme see Tony Nightingale, ‘Tauranga Land Development Schemes 1929-1955’, Report commissioned by the Waitangi Tribunal for Wai 215, November 1996

⁵ New Zealand Gazette, 1937, p 1624

⁶ Nightingale, pp 47-48

⁷ Ibid

⁸ Mangatawa Title Binder, Waikato - Maniapoto Maori Land Court, Hamilton