Mangapurua Valley

New Zealand / Manawatu-Wanganui / Raetihi /
 Upload a photo

The site of the ill fated Mangapurua settlement, a valley of abandoned dreams.
Undeveloped land in this valley was offered to returned soldiers after the first world war, in 1917.
The valley was surveyed into farming blocks and interested settlers could take control of their blocks, clear the land then burn the dried bush, build houses, fences, sow grass etc then farm the newly created land. The soldier/farmers had a lease with right to purchase. Most of the land was very steep and difficult to clear. The access road was always falling into the stream or being blocked by slips from above, so getting in and out of the valley was often impossible unless on foot or on horseback. Wild pigs delighted in rooting up all the newly grassed paddocks making worthwhile grazing for sheep very difficult.
With the road usually too difficult to use, the only other way to access the valley, was from the Whanganui River.
The last two settlers had to leave when the cabinet officially closed the unstable access road in 1942.
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   39°13'55"S   175°0'36"E

Comments

  • A book of the history of the valley is available from the Wanganui Riverboat Centre.
  •  2241 km
  •  2278 km
  •  2278 km
  •  2278 km
  •  2314 km
  •  2342 km
  •  2457 km
  •  2510 km
  •  2666 km
  •  3270 km
This article was last modified 17 years ago