Rakaia Incorporation is a Maori farming enterprise made up from the original 27 owners in 1886. There are now approximately 300 shareholders, spread throughout New Zealand and overseas who receive dividends from farms. Rakaia Incorporation currently owns three dairy farms – Tahu a Tao in Dorie, The Pahau in Culverden and Hororata . Tahu a Tao is Maori Freehold land and is subject to the Maori Reserve Act, meaning it cannot be sold without a substantial portion of shareholders approving such a decision. Paha
Rakaia Maori Reserve 2058 Section 3 was one of 16 blocks gazetted as Maori Reserve Land under the Kaiapoi Maori Reserve Act 1877. The land was managed by the Maori Affairs Department, and leased to the Kingsbury family until the expiration of the lease.
On 9 August 1973 an owners meeting was called at the MED Theatrette to consider an offer by the Kingsbury’s to buy the land for Government valuation. The resolution to owners was defeated and immediately following a Interim Trustee group was formed to look at the land and report back. The land was leased to the Kingsbury's for a further 2 years.