Hai ,£ WHANGANUI RIVER REPORT Research Report for Urgent Hearing Wai 167 Tom Bennion 9 March 1994 WHANGANUI RIVER REPORT Tom Bennion March 1994 CROSS REFERENCE TO FOOTNOTES IN THE REPORT The footnote number is !:,Tiven on the left, its document bank reference is on the right. 1 The tribunal authorisation for the research is document 3.4 in the Record of Proceedings 3 DB vol 1 p6, 17 6 Not in DB 21 DB vol 4, p21 28 Not in DB 30 Not in DB 31 Not in DB 33 Not in DB 34 In R Young report WT A45 45 DB vol 2 p430 61 DB vol 1 p25 65 DB vol 1 p38 66 DB vol 1 p40 67 DB vol 1 p32 68 DB vol 1 p33 69 This footnote should be GBPP v5 p83, DB vol 1 p34 71 DB vol 1 p36, 35,37 72 DB vol 1 p35-7 73 DB vol 1 p35 74 DB vol 1 p37 75 DB vol 1 p38 78 DB vol 1 p27 82 DB vol I p27 85 DB vol I p40 86 DB vol I p40 87 This footnote should be GBPP v5 p90, DB vol I p41 93 This footnote should be GBPP v5 p87, DB vol I p38 95 DB vol I p62 96 This footnote should be Ibid p248, DB vol I p62 97 DB vol I p62 98 DB vol 1 p63 99 DB vol 1 p63 100 DB vol 1 p63 101 DB vol I p64 102 DB vol 1 p64 103 DB vol I p64 104 DB vol I p66 105 DB vol 1 p66 107 DB vol I p70-76 108 DB vol I p70 & 74 Ito DB vol 4 pI8 112 DB vol 1 p8I and a typescript of the original diary is at DB vol 1 p83 114 See AJHR 18630-7 p44 in R Young report WT A45 116 Not in DB 118 DB vol 4 p3 119 DB vol 4 p3 120 DB vol 4 p5 121 DB vol 4 p6 122 DBvo14p14&17 123 Not in DB 132 DB vol 1 p103 133 DB vol 1 pI05 134 DB vol 1 pl03ff 135 DB vol 1 p126 136 DB vol 1 p99 137 Ditto 138 Ditto 139 DBvollp115 165 DB vol 1 p132 197 DB vol 1 p85 212 This should be, AJHR 1872 F-3 p14tT, DB vol 1 p150ff, also AJHR 1872 F-3A DB vol 1 p152ff, AJHR 1873 G-2 p16ff, DB vol 1 p160ff 213 DBvollp171ff 215 DB vol 1 p146 216 DB vol 1 p173 217 This should be 1873 G-2 p15-16, DB vol 1 p160 220 DB vol 1 p189 221 This should be Woon to Native Dept 20 October 1880, and DB refs are DB vol 3 p472, the other ref is DB vol 3 p469 222 DB vol 3 p464 225 DB vol 3 p495-97 226 DB vol 3 p477-481 227 This should be Keepa to Booth, 2 February 1881, MA 13/14, DB vol 3 p464 228 DB vol 1 p194 229 DB vol 3 p500 230 DB vol 3 p509 231 DB vol 1 p195 232 DB vol 3 p511-12 233 DB vol 1 p152-53 234 DB vol 2 p226 237 DB vol 3 p517-8 238 DB vol 2 p299 239 DB vol 2 p225 241 DB vol 2 p238 245 DB vol 2 p236 246 DB vol 2 p247 248 DB vol 2 p237 251 This should be 1887 AJHR 1-2 p8 252 DB vol 2 p256 253 DBvol 2 p258 255 DB vol 2 p256 . 256 DB vol 3 p515 257 ~ot in DB 259 DB vol 2 p259 275 Not in DB 276 Not in DB 277 Not in DB 281 Not in DB 282 DB vol 2 p305 288 Not in DB 291 Not in DB 295 Not in DB 299 Not in DB 300 Not in DB 301 Not in DB 302 Not in DB 303 Not in DB 305 DB vol 2 p306-7 311 DB vol 3 p521 313 DB vol 3 p533 314 DB vol 2 p270 315 Not in DB 316 DB vol 2 p269 317 DB vol 2 p270, DB vol 2 p275 318 This should be AJHR 1895 G-l~p8 DB vol 4 p26 322 DB vol 2 p311 324 DB vol 2 p296 325 DB vol 2 p296fT 327 DB vol 2 p296 328 DB vol 2 p293 330 DB vol 2 p312 331 DB vol 2 p290 332 DB vol 2 p288 333 DB vol 2 p278-287 334 DB vol 2 p312 335 Ditto 338 Not in DB 343 Not in DB 352 Not in DB 357 DB vol 2 p351 359 DB vol 2 p351 360 DB vol 2 p343 370 DB vol 2 p414 373 DB vol 2 p225 375 DB vol 2 p353-4 376 DB vol 2 p360 377 DB vol 2 p354 378 DB vol 2 p352 382 DB vol 2 p364 " 383 DB vol 2 p355 385 DB vol 2 p356 390 DB vol 2 p369 396 DB vol 2 p396 399 DB vol 4 p43 400 DB vol 4 p57 405 Not in DB 406 DB vol 2 p410ff '1 407 DB vol 3 p522 411 DB vol 4 p214 413 DB vol 4 p211 417 DB vol 3 p524 419 DB vol 3 p552 442 DB vol 3 p543 447 DB vol 3 p529-30 458 DB vol 4 p193 459 DB vol 4 p204-5 460 DB vol 3 p526 461 DB vol 3 p525 462 DB vol 4 p193-4 465 DB vol 4 p204 466 Not in DB 474 DB vol 4 p222 475 Ditto 484 DB vol 4 p218 .. 486 DB vol 3 p582 -------- -- 487 DB vol 3 p579 488 DB vol 3 p578 489 E>B vol 3 p576 509 Not in DB 510 ~B vol 3 p572 • • CHAPTER 6 • THE CROWN ASSERTION OF CONTROL • THE WANGANUI RIVER TRUST 1891-1900· • Initial Pressures With the growth of the Wanganui township pressure came to bear on use of the river and • Maori on the river began to realise that assertions of authority contrary to their own were I being made. These assertions were never clearcut, as no-one on the European side ever appears to have clearly articulated to Maori what the implications of English law about I tidal areas and riparian rights might be. In addition, Maori were in a situation where they welcomed European uses of the river from which they could draw benefit, such as the I building of bridges, reclamations and steamers. I The Whanganui people, or at least those on the lower reaches of the river, appear at first to have been enthusiastic about the proposal to run a private steamer service. Their I attempts to engage in gold prospecting have already been noted, now they hoped to convert their canoe transport business to the new technology. The "Upriver Committee", I a group of Wanganui business notables spearheading the private steamer venture, were I delighted to note in January 1885 that: ~ The Maoris had discussed the question of getting a steamer ... and when Mr I Ballance was there they eagerly asked when the steamer was to be placed on the river, offering to take shares if a company was formed. .. The natives said that I when the boat was on the river they would bum their canoes. They said it did not I pay to bring small quantities of goods to town in their canoes. 237 I Obviously more was said at the meeting than the printed government record revealed. A;::.. I 237 Wanganui Chronicle 24 Jan 1885, DB I 68 I / ABBREVIATIONS USED IN THIS REPORT References to the Document Bank Many footnotes contain the reference "DB". This shows that the document concerned is contained in the document bank supplied with the report. A separate list cross-referencing each footnote to the relevant document bank page number will be provided. Other Abbreviations AJHR Appendices to the Journals of the House of Representatives ATL Alexander Turnbull Library DNZB Dictionary of NZ Biography GBPP Great Britain Parliamentary Papers MB Minute Book NA National Archives Wh Whanganui CONTENTS Chapter 1 Introduction 3 Chapter 2 Preliminary Points 5 - The Area covered by this Report 5 - Physical Characteristics of the River 5 Chapter 3 Maori Use of the River Since 1840 8 - The People on the River at 1840 8 - Uses made of the River 11 Transport 11 Food 14 Spiritual 16 Chapter 4 From the Treaty to the Land Court 18 - First Contact 18 - The Treaty of Waitangi 19 - The NZ Company at Whanganui 20 - Events after the Deed 31 Chapter 5 The Land Court 1866 to 1890 and the Maori Response 41 - Land Legislation, Title Investigation and Land Sales 41 - Effect of Sales 44 - Maori Views of the River in the Period 45 The Background 45 Fishing Rights 48 Control Over River Use 56 Chapter 6 The Crown Assertion of Control The Wanganui River Trust 1891-1900 68 - Initial Pressures 68 - 1891 Wanganui River Trust Act 73 - Protest at River Clearances 82 - The Native Township at Pipiriki 89 Chapter 7 The Crown Assertion of Control Scenery Preservation and the Coal Mines Act 92 - Maori Councils Act 92 - Coal Mines Amendment Act 1903 93 - The Prohibition Case 1903 94 - Scenery Preservation Act 1903 98 - The 1916 Inquiry 104 - The 1927 Petition 108 Chapter 8 The Riverbed Litigation 1938-62 111 - Introduction 111 - The Native Land Court Application of 1938 113 - The Maori Land Court - Ownership at 1840 121 - The Maori Appellate Court - Ownership at 1840 123 - The Supreme Court 124 - The Royal Commission 129 - The Royal Commission Report 130 - The Court of Appeal - First Case 132 - The Maori Appellate Court - "Take Tupuna" 139 - The Court of Appeal - the Final Decision 141 CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION Research Credentials My name is Thomas Hugh Bennion.