NGĀTI WHĀTUA ŌRĀKEI COMMEMORATE 183 YEARS SINCE AUCKLAND LAN

[Kiwi Frontline]

NGĀTI WHĀTUA ŌRĀKEI COMMEMORATE 183 YEARS SINCE AUCKLAND LAND GIFTING

Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei leaders congregated in four significant sites around the city centre on Monday morning, reciting karanga, karakia, whaikōrero and mōteatea, to commemorate 183 years since their ancestor Apihai Te Kawau gifted 3000 acres of land along the Auckland isthmus to establish the city’s original settlement.

Iwi leader Joe Pihema said the origins of the city could be traced to a meeting between Te Kawau and New Zealand’s first governor, William Hobson, in 1840 after envisioning a township that brought with it trading opportunities between new settlers and Māori.

“Apihai actually sent a delegation to the Bay of Islands to fetch Hobson, and there we have the beginnings of a friendship, a partnership, an arrangement that Hobson would come here, erect his fledgling government and you’ve got the birth of Auckland,” said Pihema....

www.1news.co.nz/2023/09/18/ngati-whatua-orakei-commemorate-183-years-since-auckland-land-gifting/

[Kiwi Frontline]

4. In September 1840, Ngati Whatua Orakei SOLD around 3500 acres (1416ha) of land, which today covers the central city of Auckland for £50 in coin and goods amounting to approximately £215.

5. Over the next two years the tribe SOLD a further 29,000 acres (11,736ha) to the Crown for around £640 plus other goods.

6. By the end of 1842 Government agents HAD PURCHASED from chiefs land totalling 92,000ha (227,200 acres) the price being £4,196.25.

7. Between 1844 and 1845 the Crown allowed direct dealing in land between Maori and settlers. In total around 47,000 acres of land in which Ngati Whatua Orakei had interests were alienated.

8. From 1846 the Crown carried out FURTHER PURCHASES, including around West Auckland.

9. By 1855 Ngati Whatua Orakei held only 700 acres (283ha) of land on the Tamaki isthmus at Orakei.

10. Ngati Whatua Orakei hosted the month-long Kohimarama Conference in July of 1860, at the time of the first Taranaki war. MOST OF THE 200 CHIEFS ATTENDING THE CONFERENCE GAVE EMPHATIC SUPPORT TO THE COLONIAL GOVERNMENT AND THE TREATY OF WAITANGI. It would appear that Ngati Whatua were happy with the situation at that time, which was after the bulk of the land had been sold.

11. Ngati Whatua Orakei subsequently SOLD the 700 acres (283ha) of Orakei land.

12. In 1886, 5.3 ha of land at BASTION POINT WAS TAKEN UNDER THE PUBLIC WORKS ACT FOR MILITARY USE AND £1500 WAS PAID IN COMPENSATION (£1500 = APPROX $282,000  IN TODAYS MONEY.  THE MEDIAN PRICE PER HECTARE OF NZ FARMLAND IN APRIL 2015 WAS $28,668. - THIS MEANS GOVT COMPENSATION 1886 WAS APPROXIMATELY DOUBLE THE PER HECTARE VALUE OF BASTION POINT LAND.  NGATI WHATUA WAS MORE THAN ADEQUATELY COMPENSATED FOR.

sites.google.com/view/kiwifrontline/enlightenments/bastion-point

Some sales recorded here > www.govt.nz/assets/Documents/OTS/Ngati-Whatua-o-Orakei/Ngati-Whatua-Orakei-Deed-of-Settlement-5-Nov-2011.pdf

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