A fair-minded assessment of the relevant history will explain why. The board was forced to buy Pouerua and some adjoining land to protect it, when the vendor moved to break up an estate which had been in the continuous ownership of Henry Williams and his descendants since 1835. The board attempted to establish a management regime which would ensure the land was gorse free. Unfortunately, the property in its reduced state was not economic. When the Ludbrook trust made an offer for the land, as part of its plan to regain ownership of the Williams' estate, the board judged the sale would protect the spiritual and physical aspects of the land and the interests of beneficiaries.
Every ward is home to significant mountains.
The tribes have never conceded lack of physical ownership diminishes the spiritual and cultural heritage they hold in those mountains. The same is true for Pouerua. The mountain isn't moving. While people were quick to criticise the board, none were able to offer any sort of financial assistance. The board was not set up to hold properties at a loss for heritage reasons.