Te Aute Map and Land Deeds
The John Kinder Theological Library Te Puna Atuatanga is not only a research library; it is also a repository for archives relating to the Anglican Church at a national level. Archives are the records created, used or collected by an organisation. These records are catalogued by an archivist to reflect the nature of the activities of the Church.
The archive also holds papers of various Anglican Trust boards, the Colleges and other Church-related material.
In 1852, Sir George Grey (Governor of NZ) offered to make a grant of 4000 acres of land for the purpose of establishing a school in the Hawkes Bay, if the Māori of Te Aute (Ngāti Kahungunu) would give a similar parcel of land. In 1854, Te Aute college opened with a roll of twelve students. This 1862 map shows the township and part of the college land block called Waipukurau. Also accompanying the map is a land deed from the Diocese of Wellington confirming the church’s ownership of the land in Hawkes Bay.
These are a fine example of the treasures to be found in the archives at the Kinder Library.
