Gold Under The Mānuka documents the development of Mangaorapa Station in southern Hawke’s Bay.
With the tragedies of the Second World War behind us, farming in New Zealand was on the up as food production and export to Britain was in high demand. Thus began a new agricultural dynasty in New Zealand.
Gold Under The Mānuka documents the development of Mangaorapa Station in southern Hawke’s Bay over three generations of Mouat family ownership.
Purchased in 1946, the land was at the time considered near worthless. It was progressively transformed, using custom-made ploughs and heavy machinery into a highly intensive and innovative farming operation including sheep, bull beef, cropping, and later viticulture.
The “gold” of the title is a metaphor for the unrealised value of the soil, the quality of the people involved, and the standards they upheld.
Written by Bill Mouat, who lived and worked on the station for nearly six decades, the book is based on first-hand experience. The narrative begins with his grandfather, who left school at 12 years old and began labouring from humble beginnings.
Over the decades, the account describes the realities of physical labour, the transportation era, station life, challenging seasons, economic pressures, community spirit, and the constant need to adapt and solve problems.
Published in hardback by David Bateman Ltd, the book features more than 250 photographs and historical documents. A concluding
section traces the family’s early settler history, placing Mangaorapa Station within a broader regional and historical context.
This diverse book will appeal to a wide range of readers including those interested in New Zealand history, family farming stories, machinery, construction, and ongoing changes which have shaped life on the land.
