Story: West Coast region
The chiefs of Poutini Ngāi Tahu, the people of the West Coast, wrote to the government’s land purchase officer, Donald McLean, in 1857, outlining concerns about the sale of their land. They were willing to sell the land for £2,500, but wanted to make arrangements for reserves. In particular, they wished to protect their rights to the pounamu (greenstone) of the Arahura River. However, when the land was sold in 1860 those rights were ignored.
About this item
Alexander Turnbull Library, Sir Donald McLean Papers
Reference: MS-Papers-0032-0681A-04
Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Matauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.