1929 - Waste Land Productivity

Electricity would play a big part in bringing what was considered by Government as Waste Land into productivity.

In November 1929 the new dairy factory at Ruatoki was opened by Walter Reid, Chairman of the County Council an advocate for the use of electricity and Sir Apirana Ngata.

With financial assistance, such as the consolidation of titles, it was believed that “native farmers” would be able to improve their farms and also increase production.

By 1930, the Ruatoki scheme involved 25,000 acres in the Bay of Plenty. Additional resources which aimed to assist the existing settlement had already reached the point of supplying one-third of the milk for the Ruatoki dairy factory. The area at Ruatoki under occupation was about 5000 acres and a further 2500 acres was identified as being capable of dairying.

The Ruatoki Scheme was identified by the Government of the day as one of most successful of these schemes.