 The land was owned by Alexander Currie, chairman of the directors of the New Zealand Company.After Chief Wi Tako relinquished the lease of Te Mako in 1860, he agreed to have entrusted in Beetham's care a nationally significant Māori pātaka store house "Nuku Tewhatewha" that he had commissioned in 1856.This was carved by Horonuku Te Heu Heu of Ngāti Tūwharetoa.