Today in History

1885 First sod dug for North Island main trunk

On 15 April 1885 Premier Robert Stout, Wahanui Huatare, Rewi Manaipoto and others gathered at Puniu, near Te Awamutu, to launch the construction of the central section of the North Island main trunk railway. Wahanui shovelled some earth into an ornamental barrow (apparently ‘emblazoned with portraits of North American Indians, in default of Maoris’) which was wheeled off and emptied by the Premier.

A rail link between Auckland and Wellington had been discussed for decades, but progress was hampered by the rugged terrain and the New Zealand Wars. By 1880 Auckland’s southern line reached as far as Te Awamutu, and isolated lines had been built in Taranaki, Manawatu, Hawke’s Bay and Wellington–Wairarapa. Surveys of the central section were undertaken in 1882–3 and in 1884 the government reached a crucial agreement with Ngati Maniapoto leaders to open up Te Rohe Potae (the King Country) to rail development.

The main trunk line was finally completed in late 1908, 23 years after the digging of the first sod at Puniu.

Image: First sod lifted on the main trunk railway

1868 First two Maori MPs elected to Parliament

Four Maori seats were established in 1867, initially as a temporary arrangement lasting five years. The first elections for Maori members (with universal suffrage for adult men) were held in 1868.

The first two members, Frederick Nene Russell (Northern Maori) and Tareha Te Moananui (Eastern Maori) were elected unopposed on nomination day, 15 April. Mete Paetahi was selected by a show of hands in the Western Maori seat on 1 May, and the fourth Maori MP, John Patterson (Southern Maori) was elected following a poll held in June.

In the 1870s Hori Kerei Taiaroa (pictured), then the member for Southern Maori, unsuccessfully argued for an increase in the number of Maori districts to five or even seven. He had more success, however, in getting legislation passed in 1876 to establish the seats on a permanent basis.