The story of the gifting, as reported by James Cowan, gives precious insight in the relation that the Maori people had developed for their land. As a result, and in spite of its length, the following extract will prove of special interest:
" A sitting of the Native Land Court was held in Taupo in March, 1886, for the purpose of deciding the exact ownership according to native custom of the various blocks of land comprisedf within the rohepotae or general boundary of the territory kown as Taupo-nui-a-Tia. This court was attended by Te Heuheu and all the other chiefs of Ngati-Tuwharetoa, besides a large number of the people of the various tribes inhabiting the country around the great lake. The Court was held in the old courthouse which was also the Taupo schoolhouse. Many a deeply tattooed warrior chief of the old order was there; many who had fought against the Government, others who had taken up arms for the Queen against their Hauhau fellow-countrymen. Towering over them all in hereditary nobility of rank was Te Heuheu, the kingly head of a tribe that had always held its territory against assault of war from the coast-dwelling clans. To Heuheu was a man of about sixty-six years, white-haired, tattooed of face like nearly all his contemporaries. As adviser and agent with him was Mr. Lawrence M. Grace, M.H.R. for Tauranga, who had been his friend and neighbour for many years, whom indeed he had known since Grace's childhood; for the mission station was close to the great pa, Pukawa. Horonuku's daughter Kahui was married to Mr. Grace. After other areas of Taupo-nui-a-Tia had been dealt with by the Judge, Major Scannell, the question of the apportionment and disposal of the mountains Tongariro, Ngauruhoe and Ruapehu came up for settlement. When this subject was being discussed, Mr. Grace noticed that the old chief looked troubled - pouri. At the adjournment the two of them went out on to the verandah of the Court building, and then Te Heuheu told his friend that he was disturbed in mind about the future, of his sacred mountains. " If," he said, " our mountains of Tongariro are included in the blocks passed through the Court in the ordinary way, what will become of them? They will be cut up and perhaps sold, a piece going to one pakeha and a piece to another. They will become of no account, for the tapu will be gone. Tongariro is my ancestor, my tupuna; it is my head; my mana centres round Tongariro. My father's bones lie there to-day. You know how my name and history are associated with Tongariro. I cannot consent to the Court passing these mountains through in the ordinary way. After I am dead, what will be their fate? What am to do about them ?" Mr. Grace agreed that it was undesirable to permit these famous mountains to be dealt with in the ordinary way. They should he regarded as tapu from private hands. 'Now," said he to the old chief, " why not make them a tapu place of the Crown, a sacred place under the mana of the Queen? That is the only possible way in which to preserve them for ever as places out of which no person shall make money. Why not give them to the Government as a reserve and park, to be the property of all the people of New Zealand, in memory of theTe Heuheu and his tribe?". " Yes," said the old man; " that is the best course, the right thing to do! They shall be a sacred place of the Crown, a gift for ever from me and my people." When Mr. Grace returned with Te Heuheu to the Court, the suggestion was placed before the Judge, and was agreed to by the people. By common consent the mountain tops were left in the hands of Te Heuheu and his family. Thereupon Mr. Grace drew out a brief document offering the peaks to the Crown. It was signed by Te Heuheu, with whom were associated for the purposes of the gift a number of his principal co-chiefs. This preliminary deed of gift, written on a sheet of foolscap paper, was sent to the Government.

The deed, dated September 23rd, 1887, was made between To Heuheu Tukino, " aboriginal native chief of the Colony of New Zealand " and Her Majesty the Queen, and it set forth that the vendor had agreed to convey to the Queen for a nominal consideration the several pieces of land described in the schedule for the purposes of a public park for ever, " provided that the land shall be held always subject to the provisions of the Public Domains Act, 1881, and any amending Acts."