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In 1944 Heke and her siblings and cousins succeeded to the family interests in the Pouakani block, situated between the Waikato River and Mangakino Stream north of Taupo. About 1912 it had been given to Wairarapa Maori in compensation for their surrender to the government of the Wairarapa lakes in 1896. This pumice-ridden, poor-quality land lacked road access, the only approach being by barge across the Waikato River, and had in consequence been of no economic benefit. In 1946, without notifying or seeking consent from its owners, the Public Works Department began preparations for taking the land, without compensation, for a hydroelectric scheme. G. P. Shepherd, under-secretary for the Native Department, protested on the owners’ behalf. Meetings of owners, including Heke, were arranged. Now that there was at last access by road, a Maori committee made plans for the development of the best part of the block into farms for landless Wairarapa Maori who were returned servicemen. In September 1947 Peter Fraser, as both prime minister and native minister, visited Greytown and promised speedy and substantial assistance to the Maori owners to develop the block. In 1948 Heke petitioned Parliament unsuccessfully to have the Maori Land Court investigate the block.
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