Mowhanau Domain Board

The Public Domains Act 1881 provided the Governor General with power to declare certain categories of land “domains”, and authority to: 1. enclose, plant, and develop land; 2. set aside lands for public amusement and recreation; 3. lease, trade, or sell such lands; 4. provide accessways; 5. generally manage and administer lands, and spend on developments any income generated; 6. make and enforce bylaws. The Governor could also delegate these powers to a body corporate, consisting of a mayor or any designated local authority officer, and it was under this authority that most Domain Boards emerged from this time. The Public Domains Act 1908 clarified the role of Domain Boards, specifying their powers more clearly than did the original Act, but it does not appear to have significantly altered the Boards’ structure or functions.