This paper, as well as giving an account of my experience in acquiring and farming Maori land on a leasehold basis, will also highlight to those aspiring to do the same, the difficulties and frustrations they are likely to encounter. In 1958, my father took over the lease of Wharekahika A47 Block, situated 200 kilometres north of Gisborne, comprising 1,183 hectares, with l00-odd owners holding 9,667 shares. The lease was for twenty-one years with a right of renewal, with reduced rental only to my father -that is, if the lease was to pass out of his hands, the rental would double from $1.431.00 to $2,862.00. This lease was the result of a meeting of owners at which some people were offering up to 6% of capital value with talk even of 10% of capital value.
