History
How did Waitutu Incorporation and Waitutu Forest Lodge come about?
SILNA – (South Island Landless Natives Act) was a law passed by the Liberal Government on 20 October 1906.
“From 1844 to 1864 the Crown negotiated 10 large-scale purchases of land from Kāi Tahu, whereby some 34,500,000 acres of land, almost the entire land base of the iwi, was sold for £14,750. The promises of the Crown purchase agents created an expectation that Kāi Tahu would be left with “ample reserves” and access to mahika kai areas. These promises were not honoured, leading to widespread impoverishment and pervasive socio-economic issues for the iwi”. (Davis, 2017)
In 1886-7 Commissioner Mackay’s report condemned the actions of the Crown and highlighted the significant effects the lack of land was having on Kāi Tahu and recommended the Crown set aside vast tracts of land to “landless” individuals.
In 1906, the SILNA was passed which authorised the land to impoverished individuals in the hope it would provide financial stability. As a result of SILNA, the land between the Wairaurahirir River and the Waitutu River was allocated in blocks to groups of families who were deemed to be “landless natives” of Ngai Tahu descent.
Sadly, almost all the land given under SILNA proved to be difficult, if not impossible, to extract any economic benefit from it.
The formation of the Waitutu Incorporation
In 1972, the owners of 23 blocks in the 2,171 hectares of Waitutu forest given by the Crown as compensation, applied to the Maori Land Court to administer the land as one block and form an Incorporation. This resulted in the Proprietors of Waitutu Incorporation, known today as the Waitutu Incorporation, was formed. There are now approximately 1150 owners. With fragmentation, this number of owners will continue to increase.
“In 1996, the Conservation Minister (at that time), Denis Marshall, and Waitutu Incorporation Chairman, (at that time) John Southerwood, signed a Deed of Settlement for an historic agreement between the Crown and the Incorporation. This agreement granted the Incorporation cutting rights over a Beech production forest in exchange for the conservation of the Waitutu forest. This removed forever the threat of clear felling the pristine virgin podocarp Waitutu block in Southland.” (Marshall, 1996)
The Crown currently manage the land as if it were a National Park, but ownership of the land will remain with the Incorporation under the jurisdiction of the Te Ura Whenua Maori Act.
SILNA – (South Island Landless Natives Act) was a law passed by the Liberal Government on 20 October 1906.
“From 1844 to 1864 the Crown negotiated 10 large-scale purchases of land from Kāi Tahu, whereby some 34,500,000 acres of land, almost the entire land base of the iwi, was sold for £14,750. The promises of the Crown purchase agents created an expectation that Kāi Tahu would be left with “ample reserves” and access to mahika kai areas. These promises were not honoured, leading to widespread impoverishment and pervasive socio-economic issues for the iwi”. (Davis, 2017)
In 1886-7 Commissioner Mackay’s report condemned the actions of the Crown and highlighted the significant effects the lack of land was having on Kāi Tahu and recommended the Crown set aside vast tracts of land to “landless” individuals.
In 1906, the SILNA was passed which authorised the land to impoverished individuals in the hope it would provide financial stability. As a result of SILNA, the land between the Wairaurahirir River and the Waitutu River was allocated in blocks to groups of families who were deemed to be “landless natives” of Ngai Tahu descent.
Sadly, almost all the land given under SILNA proved to be difficult, if not impossible, to extract any economic benefit from it.
The formation of the Waitutu Incorporation
In 1972, the owners of 23 blocks in the 2,171 hectares of Waitutu forest given by the Crown as compensation, applied to the Maori Land Court to administer the land as one block and form an Incorporation. This resulted in the Proprietors of Waitutu Incorporation, known today as the Waitutu Incorporation, was formed. There are now approximately 1150 owners. With fragmentation, this number of owners will continue to increase.
“In 1996, the Conservation Minister (at that time), Denis Marshall, and Waitutu Incorporation Chairman, (at that time) John Southerwood, signed a Deed of Settlement for an historic agreement between the Crown and the Incorporation. This agreement granted the Incorporation cutting rights over a Beech production forest in exchange for the conservation of the Waitutu forest. This removed forever the threat of clear felling the pristine virgin podocarp Waitutu block in Southland.” (Marshall, 1996)
The Crown currently manage the land as if it were a National Park, but ownership of the land will remain with the Incorporation under the jurisdiction of the Te Ura Whenua Maori Act.
