Following the McLean purchase, most Māori-owned land south of the Mōhaka River fell into Crown ownership. Much is written about land acquisition north of the Mōhaka — particularly the sale of the Mōhaka and Waihua Blocks — with instances of land being taken without compensation due to survey error, deceit, and other reasons. History records land sales to settlers at ten times what Māori owners had agreed to, before receiving payment from the Crown. Further controversy surrounded the Crown’s Consolidation Act and Māori Development Act, which saw land blocks carved up and reallocated to Māori without regard for hapū or iwi affiliation.

Under the Apirana Ngata land development scheme, several small landowners worked their holdings as dairy or sheep and beef farms. Most failed due to lack of scale and unsustainability. Many were forced to find work locally — on railways, roads, and farms — to keep families and service mortgages and loans.

Largely through the vision of Wairoa kaumātua Sir Turi Carroll — supported by Paora Rerepu, Wiki Hapeta, Irene Stuart, and Dottie Winiata among others — 45 to 50 owners of 13 blocks totalling 2,813 acres met at Jim Adsett’s picture hall on 13 August 1958 to discuss consolidation with Department of Māori Affairs staff.

A further meeting at the Raupunga Memorial Hall on 12 July 1959 saw block numbers grow to 21, with a combined government valuation of $40,000. An interim management committee was elected: Henry Kupa, Girlie Wainohu (Secretary), John Wainohu, Jim Eriha, Wiki Hapeta, AT Carroll (Chair), Paul Lemuel, Bill Te Kahu, Wi Keefe, Irene Stuart, and Tu Pera. On 15 October 1959, the Māori Land Court at Wairoa amalgamated 20 blocks under the title Mōhaka C9, cancelling all existing titles. Paroa Trust was born.