History of our land

Kōrero o te whenua

http://www.wakatu.org.nz/home/whanau/lands/history-of-our-land/     ( 22 May, 2013 )

Tenths Reserve estate

In the 1800s the New Zealand Company (NZC), supported by the Crown, promoted the large scale European settlement and colonisation of New Zealand. A key component of the NZC colonisation scheme was the agreement to reserve one –tenth of all land purchased for the on-going and future prosperity of its Māori vendors.  

The Tenths Reserves were vital to the success of the New Zealand Company’s scheme, and was the main reason Māori in Nelson and Wellington agreed to the settlement of their land.  The Tenths were the ‘consideration’ or payment for the land that the New Zealand Company was sold for settlement purposes.  Māori anticipated that European settlement would bring many advantages, such as trade, education and access to new technology. 

Unfortunately, neither the New Zealand Company’s obligations nor the Treaty of Waitangi guarantees were honoured by the New Zealand Company or the Crown. Read more

Historic plans

Included here please find the original plans for the European settlement of Nelson in the 1840s, including land set aside as Tenths Reserves.

New Zealand Company

The New Zealand Company, a commercial enterprise formed in Britain and supported by the British Government, dispatched an expedition to establish its second NZ settlement, to be named Nelson, in 1841.

Tenths Reserves

In the 1800s the New Zealand Company (NZC), supported by the Crown, promoted the large scale European settlement and colonisation of New Zealand. A key component of the NZC colonisation scheme was the agreement to reserve one –tenth of all land purchased for settlement, for the on-going and future prosperity of its Māori vendors. The Tenths Reserves were vital to the success of the New Zealand Company’s scheme, and was the main reason why Māori in Nelson and Wellington agreed to the settlement of their land. The Tenths were the ‘consideration’ or payment for the land that the New Zealand Company was sold for settlement purposes. Māori anticipated that European settlement would bring many advantages, such as trade, education and access to new technology. Unfortunately, neither the New Zealand Company’s obligations nor the Treaty of Waitangi guarantees were honoured by the New Zealand Company or the Crown.