The fertile, productive Whanganui lands have fed and clothed people for centuries.

New Zealand’s natural environment was dramatically transformed after 1840. Settlers fired tussock grassland, cleared forests, drained swamps and introduced exotic species.

Their practices destroyed or adversely affected traditional mahinga kai (food gathering places), compromising Māori self-sufficiency. The introduction of sheep and cattle permitted a largely pastoral economy to develop, with wool becoming a chief export earner and frozen meat becoming an important commodity from the 1880s.

Descendants of the families who helped develop this pastoral landscape still live in the region. Here we celebrate the endurance and innovation of these pioneering farmers.