Appendix c
Mid-Rangitikei History
Maori tribal land in this area has been lived on for over 500 years.
To the ancestors whose names still ring loud and clear over
these mountain ranges from Kaimanawa to Tararua,
Rest in the name of the lord not forgotten.
Salutation to our sacred mountains, our rivers, and Mother Earth.
(Robertson 1995:15)
Pakeha history in the mid Rangitikei dates from 1839 when the first missionaries entered the area. The Rangitikei Block was purchased in 1849 for the Provincial Government, though a farming community was established only at the turn of the century.
The farm settlement schemes of the 1890s in this area had a unique constitution. The settlers outlined how they would co-operate with each other to achieve their aims. Included were rules for the distribution of wages and food, provision for sickness benefits and the use of a ballot to distribute the land after it had been cleared. (Robertson 1995:27)
Such a ‘constitution’ could be valuable in the area now. Farms obtained through settlement or ballot are scattered through the region, with several farmers making reference to the inadequacy of planning and size of scale of these blocks, and their being overvalued. There is reference in Robertson’s (1995:25) centennial history of Taihape to unemployment problems in the area as early as the 1890s.
‘Townships’ such as Mataroa, Ohingaiti and Mangaweka were once centres of activity, because of poor roads, and horse-drawn transport, sawmilling, building of the railway line and farming. In 1911 Mangaweka had a population of 600. There were once two grocers, two clothing shops, a tailor, a stationery shop, 2 garages, a Chinese fruit shop and many more shops and businesses. Today it has a population bordering on 200 and four shops or businesses: an adventure garage, a pub, an electrician and a secondhand furniture shop. Hunterville Primary had over 400 children attending in the early 1950s.
In 1960 the Railways Department was the biggest employer of boys and men in Taihape. For boys it was often work on the railways, or roads. One woman suggested that a choice of career for girls growing up in the area meant either "the telephone exchange or the post office". In rural areas farming was the favoured way of life; boys followed their dads onto the farm. Sport was crucial important, then and now. Football "was never played in Pohunui as we never had a piece of level ground large enough".
Two of the main events in the history of the mid-Rangitikei were the electrification of the railways and the Mangaweka road deviation. Both have impacted on the living standards of farm families and those living in the urban areas. More than 170 railway families left Taihape, many taking voluntary redundancy, following electrification of the railway line in the mid-Rangitikei in the 1980s. That exodus had a domino effect on service withdrawal, for fewer people equals fewer services.
The Mangaweka deviation removed one of the most dangerous parts of State Highway 1 but some argue that it had an adverse effect on this area. Instead of stopping either side of the deviation for ‘a cuppa’ people "now see Taupo as the lunch place". The deviation, and general improvement in ‘urban’ roads also means "it is easier to hop in the car and travel that extra distance to Wanganui or Marton to do the shopping" rather than in places such as Taihape or Hunterville.
On the other hand, the beautification of Taihape and the opening of quality restaurants has brought new customers to shop in the town.
Contact for Enquiries
Rural Affairs Coordinator
Sector Performance Policy
MAF Policy
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
PO Box 2526
Wellington
NEW ZEALAND
Phone: +64 4 894 0675
Fax: +64 4 4 894 0745
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