NATIVE LANDS IN THE NORTH ISLAND (STATEMENT SHOWING THE POSITION OF).

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1911 Session I, G-06

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1911. NEW ZEALAND

NATIVE LANDS IN THE NORTH ISLAND (STATEMENT SHOWING THE POSITION OF).

Laid on the Table of the House of Representatives by Leave.

Memorandum fob the Hon. the Native Minister. THE POSITION OF NATIVE LANDS IN THE NORTH ISLAND. Taking the position of Native lands in 1891 as set out in parliamentary paper G.-10 for chat year, it gives in detail the general position at that period, and allows a summary to be shown for the intervening period of twenty years. The return at that date gives : — Total area of Native lands, 10,829,486 acres, held as follows : (a.) Lands the title to which had not been ascertained, Acres. Acres, otherwise papatupu or customary lands ... ... 2,777,209 (b.) Lands to which titles were ascertained and— (i.) Leased to Europeans ... ... ... 2,422,409 (ii.) Held by owners ... ... 5,629,808 8,052,277 10,829.486 The lands were distributed as follows, according to land districts :— (a.) Papatupu Lands. Acres. Acres. Auckland ... ... ... ... ... 1,897,567 Taranaki ... ... ... ... 31,000 Hawke's Bay ... ... ... ... 519,681 Wellington ... ... ... ... ... 328,961 2,777,209 (/*.) (i.) Leased Lands. « Auckland ... ... ... ... 392,374 Taranaki ... ... •■• ••■ ... 64,718 Hawke's Bay ... ... ... ••• ... 1,285,557 Wellington ... ... ... ... ■■ 679,820 2,422,469 (b.) (ii.) Lands held by Maoris. Auckland ... .... ... ... 3,387,107 Taranaki * •■• 494,298 Hawke's Bay ... ... ••• 774,922 Wellington ... ... • ■■ •■■ ••■ 973,481 5,629,808 Total ... ... ... 10,829,486 If the total area in each land district of all classes of Native land is taken we hay Acres. Auckland ... ... ... ••• ••■ ••■ ••• 5,677,048 Taranaki 590,016 Hawke's Bay ... ... ••• ■■• ••■ ••• 2,580,160 Wellington 1,982,262 Total ••• 10,829,486 I— G. 6.

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Then, as now, there were only two sources from which the Crown lands could be replenished— by the acquisition on the one hand of Native lands, and on the other of private (European) estates. To acquire the former, legislation was introduced, and the following Acts passed : Native Land Purchase Act, 1892; Maori Land Settlement Act, 1905; Native Land Act, 1909, Part XIX. To achieve the latter the Land for Settlements Acts were passed. Native Land Purchases, 1891-1911. Period. Return. Area finally acquired. Amount paid. Acres. £ 1891-92 ... ... ... G.-4, 1892 179,618 42,830 1892-93 ... ... ... G.-4, 1893 132,357 16,670 1893-94 ... ... ... G.-3, 1894 345,850 123,569 1894-95 ... ... ... G.-2, 1895 124,751 32,627 1895-96 ... ... ... G.-3, 1896 467,689 70,131 1896-97 ... ... ... G.-3, 1897 315,490 100,432 1897-98 ... ... ... G.-3, 1898 360,238 83,994 1898-99 ... ... ... G.-3, 1899 402,578 92,005 1899-1900 ... ... ... G:-3, 1900 78,295 17,966 1900-01 ... ... ... G.-o, 190 i 206,954 35,561 1901-02 ... ... ... G.-3, 1902 84,882 27,456 1902-03 ... ... ... G.-3, 1903 65,486 27,262 1903-04 ... ... ... G.-3, 1904 18,765 5,658 1904-05 ... ... ... G.-3, 1905 13,515 2,587 1905-06 ... ... ... G.-3, 1906 3,855 20,410 1906-07 ... ... G.-3, 1907 5,069 5,024 1907-08 ... ... ... 267,256 154,534 1908-09 Survey liens 21,791) y 6 (G.-3, 1909 6,935) °' J ' 4 1909-10 ... ... G.-3a, 1910 15,588 21,953 1910-11 ... ... ... ... 75,437 123,437 3,192,399 £1,010,080

During the same period (for the greater part of which the sale of Native land to private individuals was prohibited) the area sold to private persons amounted to 499,F82 acres. So that during the period under review the Maori owners parted with the freehold of 3,692,281 acres,'and all this is in the North Island

Papatupu Lands. In 1891 the area of these, lying virgin not only to the axe of the settlers but to the law, held by the aboriginal owners under their customs and usages, not according to any title recognized by the District I,and Registration Offices, amounted to 2,777,209 acres. In 1909 this had been reduced to 490,752 acres, distributed as follows:— Auckland Land District — Acres. Acres. Opotiki County ... ... ... ... 140,000 Itotorua County ... ... ... ... 6,716 Kawhia County ... ... ... ... 45,170 North Auckland •... ... ... ... 127,581 Miscellaneous ... ... ... ... 22,000 341,467 Hawke's Bay Land District.— Waiapu County ... ... .. 149,285 490,752 At the 31st March, 1911, this area had been further reduced to 190,792 acres, of which the bulk is in the Auckland Land District. The bare figures to those unacquainted with Native land matters may not be eloquent. But to those who know and understand the process of converting customary into freehold lands, held by registrable titles, the figures are exceedingly interesting. To illustrate : —• (a.) In 1891 the King-country, or Aotea-Rohe Potae, containing 1,844,780 acres, was closed to settlement, and was just being touched by the Native Land Court. The whole of what is now Waitomo County was then Native land. The area of that county is roughly 658,560 acres. The County Council recently make the statement: " The total area of rateable Native lands irS Waitomo County on the roll is 262,553 acres, of which 195,000 acres have been leased or sold to Europeans, and the balance of 67,553 acres is in the name of nominated Native owners." (b.) The Urewera County, containing approximately 650,000 acres, was until 1896 deliberately closed by the tribal policy against surveys. Land Courts, and even the Queen's writ. There the old regime made its last stand. In that year legislation was passed to enable the title to this large area to be ascertained. In 1907 the preliminary work of investigation was, with the exception of one block of 1,000 acres, completed, subject to adjustments of minor errors, and the next step, that of the settlement of the country, undertaken. The Crown is in treaty for the purchase of 100,000 acres, of which it has completed 37,000.

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(c.) In 1891 there was a large area of papatupu land —extending from Torere, near Opotiki, via Cape Runaway, to the mouth of the Waiapu River, south of East Cape —amounting to about 480,000 acres. Of this area there now remains less than 90,000 acres papatupu, and less than one-half in Maori ownership unoccupied. These three districts comprise (with the exception of Taupo and portions of North Auckland) the most backward and the least accessible at the beginning of 1891. In two years it is estimated there will not be any block of value remaining in the category of " customary " or " papatupu " land. This Position in 1911. 'Ihe Native lands in the North Island were reduced by sales to the Crown and to private individuals to 7,137,205 acres at the 31st March, 1911. The Lands Department Return, C.-l, 1911 (page 37), gives the following : — Land District. Acres. Auckland ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 3,882,893 Taranaki ... ... ... ... ... ... 341,362 Hawke's Bay ... ... ... ... ... 1,480,974 Wellington ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 1,531,481 7,236,710 But that return did not take into consideration sales approved by the various Maori Land Boards and completed before the 31st March of this year, but not registered at that date. For purposes of reference it may be taken as correct that at the 31st March, 1911, the area of Native lands in the North Island, ow-ned by the Maoris, or held for them by Boards and trustees, was 7,137,205 acres. Area profitably occupied. The area estimated to be profitably occupied as at the 31st March, 1911, was as follows : — (1.) Lands leased direct by Native owners — Acres. (a.) Confirmed by Native Land Court ... ... 1,500,000 (b.) Approved by Maori Land Boards ... ... 1,291,686 (2.) Lands leased on behalf of Maori owners — («.) Through the Maori Land Boards ... ... ... 294,873 (b.) By the' East Coast Trust Land Commissioner (including area farmed by Maoris and the Commissioner) ... 95,050 (c.) Under the Mangatu No. 1 Empowering Act ... ... 51,295 (d.) By the Public Trustee ... ... ... ... 1(i3.665 (3.) Area subject to timber agreements validated by Parliament on the recommendation of the' Native Land Commission ... ... 135,000 (4.) Area subject to Tutira and Waimarama leases validated by Parliament on the recommendation of the Commission ... 24,773 (5.) Area estimated to be in profitable occupation by the Maori owners 500,000 4,056,342 As to the area held under lease, the leases vary in character from the leases with perpetual right of renewal in Taranaki to leases, chiefly in the Wellington and Hawke's Bay Land Districts, which are on the point of expiring. Ihe latter, after providing for the needs of the Maori owners, are supplying near populated, centres suitable areas of improved land for closer settlement as ordinary Crown lands. These lands ate producing a return to their owners; on them local taxation is paid, and on them also land-tax is paid by the Native owners through the lessees, who deduct from rent payable land-tax paid by them on account of the Native owners. It is true that large areas are unimproved, having been recently taken up, but so is the case with Crown lands recently settled. Private alienation is taking place on a large scale in respect of these lands within the limitations imposed by the Native Land Act, 1909, and the Crown is also engaged in the purchase of areas of such lands close to centres of population. 11//occupied*Lands. After deducting the area estimated as above to be in profitable occupation, there remains a balance unoccupied of 3,080,863 acres. Of this area a proportion must be deducted as unfit 'for settlement. This is difficult to arrive at correctly. The Lands Department (C.-l, 1911, page 37) estimatesithe area occupied by roads, rivers, and lakes in the North Island at 1,000,882 acres. It is safe to estimate that one-fifth of this area is oh Native land, and of such one-fifth a little under one-half is on unoccupied Native lands. The bulk of the unoccupied lands are in the Urewera country (both within and without the area known as tlie Urewera District Native Reserve), Taupo, Thermal Springs District, Inland Poverty Bay, Cape Runaway and East Cape, Upper Wanganui, Inland Patea near the Ruahine. Range, and North Auckland. They are mainly, therefore, in those portions of the North Island that are difficult of access. Ihe distribution of the bulk of the unoccupied Native land is as follows : — (1.) The Urewera District Native Reserve contains in one compact area the largest extent of unoccupied lands. Its total area is 650,000 acres. After deducting 37,000 acres purchased by the

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Crown, and, say, 13,000 acres in occupation and under cultivation, the balance is 600,000 acres. Though this district has not been properly explored, those familiar with it know that the bulk of it is very rough, and suitable only for pastoral purposes in large areas/ requiring the expenditure of much capital, while a considerable area should also be permanently reserved for scenic effects and the protection of the existing lakes. On the north of this territory and to the west of it are the following large blocks unoccupied: .Matahina, 42,448 acres; Tuara.rangaia. 6,41)0 acres; Pokohu and Putauki, 26,485 acres; Whirinaki, 10,010 acres; Heruiwi, 2,484 and 6.290 acres: total, 94,207 acres. These lands are described as "pumice country, fit for small grazing-runs or pastoral runs only, suitable for settlement in large areas -only." Some land adjoining, owned by the Crown, purchased from the Native owners about twenty years ago, remain to this day unoccupied for want of access am! because of the uninviting nature of the country. (2.) In the East Taupo, portion of West Taupo, and Rotorua Counties are many large blocks unsuitable for settlement, except in large areas, as small grazing-runs or pastoral runs. These comprise the pumice areas of the central North Island district. So far the demand for settlement even of areas readily available for that purpose has not been keen or insistent. The farming of pumice lands of the nature of those lying to the north, east, and south of Lake Taupo may after much experimenting lie found profitable, but for present purposes these areas may be classed as pastoral runs. The following are the large or unoccupied blocks : — East Taupo County— Nameofßlcck. W Acres. Kunanga ... ... ... ... ... 8,630 TeHautu ... ... ... ... ... 99,300 Tapuioruahine ... ... ... ... ... 20,000 Kaimanawa ... ... ... ... ... 40,000 Waipapa ... ... ... ... ... 10,400 Ohuanga ... ... ... ... ... 5,986 Whakamaru-Mangaiti ... ... ... ... 3,737 Parts Pouakani, Tihoi, and Tauri ... ... ... 47,395 Tatua East ... ... ... ... 12,900 Tahorakuri ... ... ... ... 36,085 Tutukau East and West ... ... ... ... 7,794 lauhara North, Middle, and South... ... ... 49,324 Tauranga-Taupo 1, 2, and 3 ... ... ... '21,040 Pa its of Paeroa South and Rotomahana-Parekarangi ... 18,986 Rangipo North ... ... ... ... ... 31,236 Rangipo-Waiu ... ... ... ... ... 28,682 Parts Rangiwaea and iMuriniotu ... ... ... 15,564 457,059 Part West Taupo County— Part Tihoi ... «... ... ... ... 55,583 Pukekura ... ... ... ... ... 3,423 Taurewa ... ... ... ... ... 28,860 Part Okahukura 8 Block (approximate) ... ... 19,000 106,866 Part Rotorua County— Parts Rotomahana-Parekarangi . ... .. 56.018 Part Pokohu A, B, and C ... ... ... ... 13,922 Part Paeroa E ... ... ... ... 11,264 Ruawahia 2 ... ... ... ... 4,164 85,368 Kiwitea and Rangitikei Counties — Awarua Blocks ... ... ... ... ... 21,896 Pohokura ... ... ... ... ... 10,657 Utumore ... ... ... ... ... 10,000 — 42,553 Part Waimarino County— Urewera Block ... ... ... >. ... ... 12,429 Tawhai North ... ... ... ... 3,000 Tongariro ... ... ... ... ... 13,927 Ruapehu ... ... ... ... ... 15,488 Papatupu lands .. ... ... ... 4,474 49,318 Hawke's Bay County (Part) — Omahaki ... ... ... ... ... 15,710 Te Koau ... ... ... ... ... 10,300 Timahanga ... ... ... ... ... 21,900 47,910 789,074 These do not comprise the whole of the lands surrounding Lake Taupo. Lands that are partly occupied, such as Oruamatua-Kaimanawa (82,000 acres) and Owhaoko (167,000 acres), are not included in the above list; nor are the lands lying to the west, north-west, and south-west of Lake

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Taupo covered by agreements with timber-milling companies. The latter include the following lands : — Waihaha 3, 42,915 acres; Mauhungaroa, 55,398 acres; Waituhi-Kuratau, 16,234 acres; Puketapu and Hohotaha, Whangaipeke, Ruamata, Pukepoto and Waione, 61,250 acres : total, 175,797 acres. It will be seen, therefore, that in the Urewera country and adjoining districts and in the Taupo district are the largest areas of Native lands, amounting approximately to 1,908,078 acres, or nearly two million acres. Those, therefore, that speak of the huge areas of unoccupied Native lands will do well to remember that of these unoccupied lands nearly two-thirds are massed in a part of the North Island generally regarded as unfit for settlement, except in large areas, as small grazing-runs or pastoral runs. (3.) North of Auckland the total area of Native lands is 771,939 acres. Of this area, the total under lease at the 31st March, 1911 (including lands leased for milling purposes), was 181,275 acres 1 rood 12 perches, including 73,271 acres 3 roods 16 perches of vested lands leased by the Maori Land Board. Allowing an area of 85,000 acres to be in profitable occupation of the Native owners, the balance of unoccupied lands is 505,664 acres 1 rood 22 perches. Of this, it is estimated that the area unfit for settlement is between 60,000 and 70,000 acres, leaving approximately 435,664 acres unoccupied and fit for settlement. Of this latter area, 44,278 acres are still unclothed with title. Much of the land is reported to be broken, and fit only for settlement in large areas; while, however, there are many tracts of first-class land, particularly in the neighbourhood of Kaikohe and in the Mangakahia Valley. (4.) The East Cape to Opotiki territory is the only other than requires special mention here. Part of this extends into the Hawke's Bay Land District. Taking the Waiapu River on the east, and the Opape Reserve, near Opotiki, on the south-west of this territory, the area of Native land stretching along the coast in one almost unbroken block is approximately 477,800 acres. Until six years ago there were nearly 300,000 acres of this area that had not passed the Native Land Court. This has since been surveyed into tribal subdivisions, and, with the exception of about 90,000 acres, has passed the Native Land Court. The settlement of the occupied portion of the territory is recent. The present position is : — Acres. Acres. Area leased ... ... ... ... ... 141,607 Area under negotiation for lease with approval of Board (approximately) ... ... ... 22,000 Area profitably occupied by Maori owners (approximately) 67,628 231,235 Unoccupied— Unsuitable for settlement (estimated) ... ... 25,000 Suitable for settlement (including areas to be reserved for Native owners and areas that have not passed the Native Land Court) ... ... ... 221,565 246,565 477,800 How the Unoccupied Lands are held. The following figures will show how the unoccupied lands were held at the 31st March, 1911 : — (1.) Held by trustees for settlement — Acres. Aores. (a.) Public Trustee ... ... ... ... 37,612 (6.) East Coast Trust Lands Commissioner ... 93,855 (c.) Vested in Trustees under the Native Land Laws Amendment Act, 1897 ... ... 66,166 {d.) Vested in Maori Land Boards and undisposed of ... ... ... ... ... 673,962 871,595 (2.) Under negotiation direct or by meeting of assembled owners for purchase by the Crown ... ... 430,560 (3.) Subject to Urewera District Native Reserve Act (balance) ... ... ... ... 600,000 (4.) Uninvestigated papatupu lands ... ... ... 190,792 (5.) Other lands ... ... ... ... 987,916 3,080,863 This sets out the position as far as can be ascertained of Native lands. As to the working of the Native Land Courts and Maori Land Boards for the past year, this will be found in the report of the 25th May last, dealing with administration generally. THOS. W. FIBHER, Native Department, 24th October, 1911. Under-Secretary.

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