How Mangati was lost

The Waitangi Tribunal in 1995 reported on the tortuous history of the Mangati reserves.

Sixty-six hectares were reserved for Puketapu hapū in 1848 when the Bell Block was bought from them for £200 (in spite of disputed ownership and no unanimity within Puketapu over the sale.)

In 1887 the reserve was granted to 15 individuals: Karena Taituha, Rihari Repora, Pera Pehimana, Roka Pehimana, Arapere, Henare Punanga, Ruka Te Ngarau, Kahukare, Ngawaikawakawa, Hami te Raro, Heremaia Paora, Tamati Watene, Hinetapaki, Rangiroera and Hera te Mihiorawru.

But the land remained vested with the Public Trustee and administered along with confiscated land under the West Coast Settlement Reserves Act.

In 1919 the reserve was partitioned into five parts (A-E) despite objection from Te Titi Karena. The land was awarded to 55 owners, but remained vested in the Public Trustee and now came under Native Land Court jurisdiction.

The owners rejected offers to buy Mangati E four times between 1925 and 1965.

Although no urupā was officially reserved on Mangati E, Te Titi Karena told MP Dr Māui Pōmare in 1919 that Karena’s ancestors were buried there.

A letter in Māori Land Court files from an owner, MH Hughes, states Mangati E block as leased was 82 acres ‘‘less 1⁄ acre burial ground.’’ 4

Urupā were often not reserved through the Māori Land Court as owners were reluctant to reveal their location, to avoid looting and desecration.

In August 1968 Mangati E was taken under the Public Works Act for a sewage treatment works.

One of the owners, Helena Brand, objected twice to the Taranaki County Council and once to the Secretary of Māori Affairs, saying her sister and other earlier Māori were buried there, in unknown locations.

No record of compensation has been found.

As local government was reorganised, the Mangati E Māori Reserve was transferred to New Plymouth City Council in 1986, and in 1992 it was transferred to New Plymouth District Council.

By 1995 less than 5 hectares of the original 66 remained in Māori hands. As well as the 33 hectares in NPDC control, 22 hectares had been sold to private owners, and around 3 hectares ‘‘Europeanised’’ under the Māori Affairs Amendment Act.