This area started like most others in New Zealand. The difference was the large area of very wet swamp over most of the low ground with small areas of sandy ridges that ran in all directions, probably as the sea left it many years before. Peat was the result and later the 1886 Tarawera eruption overlaid a large amount of ash and pumice. Much of the first farming endeavour was small areas of crops, with wheat, barley, oats etc. This caused the first power unit to be built in 1860 which was a waterwheel to process the grain. This was commissioned by Governor Grey. So began the small or light industry to service the need.
As the land became more settled and cattle began to arrive, a service industry sprang up to supply milk, and later butter and cheese, to local people. Even today one can find the abandoned buildings dotted around the area that serviced the needs at that time, some are converted for other use today. Often it was the craftsmen who serviced the area with their skills: Blacksmiths, Carpenters, Boat builders etc who worked out of very rough and basic buildings to help a community, but as my Grandfather found in 1890 a Blacksmith had plenty of work but people had no cash to pay. So often it was pay in kind; some of their crops or whatever they had. It was a very hard life just to survive. Thus the beginning grew out of slow development of the area. As markets were found outside the district the butter and cheese factories were established.
By 1900 a large building was erected on the banks of the Whakatane River to establish a meat works but that dream suffered failure and cost many locals hard cash but many years later it became the Board Mills. In the 1950-60’s the small local factories were taken over by more progressive companies and transport came into being on quite primitive roads to say the least. All previous cream and milk carting was done by the farming families who supplied the small local factories of which most of that was done by horse and dray, as was all the farm work. As more equipment came to hand the farmers were able to purchase it so the land development improved. It is these agricultural items that The Waterwheel is trying to save as a memento of how basic and useful this was to our growth in this District and to the skill and determination of local farmers to get on and get the job done. As this went on, larger industries came into being. The dairy factory at Edgecumbe, paper mills at Kawerau, board mills and earlier sawmills were dotted around wherever trees were to be found and many stories of their history are great reading for anyone who can appreciate the incredible effort that has been made here.
Today we have towns of service industries who keep the economy going but who likewise have to grow with a sympathetic approach to the need of the community. Those who did, lasted but those who only had profit in mind often failed. All the community was and is dependant on all pulling together. As an overview we today have reaped where we did not sow but owe so much to our forefathers. Our primary industry is our land and the successful use of it but it is all tied in with the service to that end to make it all work.
Grass = Butter, milk, cheese etc.
Trees = Timber, paper, cardboard etc.
Crops = Grain, horticulture and so on.
Just as our forefathers were important, we each need to realize our part in the whole to make something worth while to pass on.
To look back with appreciation is to look forward with endeavour.
This is the part we at the Waterwheel Heritage Park continue to do and in doing so help those around us to step in, gaining self worth and trade skills. Giving a much fuller life to, in turn, pass it on again.