Instead of submitting to the pressure the Crown put on them, Maniapoto rangatira pressed their demands on the Crown through a series of negotiations and agreements which have become known as Te Ōhākī Tapu. In 1884, the Maniapoto rangatira Wahanui, some of whose descendants are here today, spoke to this House. Wahanui sought that Parliament provide a way for Maniapoto to administer their territory and control alienation of Maniapoto land. He told the House, "E kī tūturu ana ahau ko tō mātou whakaaro e pēnei ana mā mātou anake te whakahaere o aua whenua."—"I say that we wish to have the sole administration of those lands." The Crown quickly disregarded the promises it made to Maniapoto through Te Ōhākī Tapu. Instead, it placed significant pressure on Maniapoto to allow the Native Land Court and European settlement to have priority access to the rohe. The Crown aggressively acquired large amounts of Maniapoto land, such that by 1935 only 24 percent of land in Te Rohe Pōtae was in Māori ownership. While there were many lands that were acquired from Maniapoto in breach of the Treaty, the site of the public works taking for what later became Tokanui Hospital is one of the largest public works takings in New Zealand's history.