Newspaper Article 1948 – Big Land Deal

Big Land Deal

Price Below £2 An Acre

Most interesting of several substantial property sales approved recently by the Hawke’s Bay Land Sales Committee is that of the well-known and old-established Waiwhare Station, the 13,764 acres of which have been disposed of by the Bell Estate for £22,000. The larger portion of the property has been taken over by the State Forest Service, while the better farmland has been acquired by a syndicate of four returned servicemen.

Waiwhare Station extends over rugged country in toward the Kaweka Range, fronting on to the tortuous Taihape Road in the direction of Kuripapanga [Kuripapango]. Much of it is reputedly difficult to farm, though it produces hardy stock which do well when brought on to the rolling down country. It is because of its difficult character, however, that the State Forest Service is taking over about 9700 acres of the western part of the station for incorporation in an adjoining State Forest which extends back to the Kaweka Range and beyond.

Primary purpose of this acquisition is the retirement of eroding land in the interests of soil conservation, most of the country being extremely rugged and subject to erosion. No planting is being undertaken at present, though this may be done on certain portions of the land later.

Four returned servicemen will farm approximately 4000 acres of the front portion of the station which they have acquired under private treaty. – P.H.