Major Vercoe and Ruhi Pururu are interviewed by Mr Thomas of the ABC about the Maori Land Development Scheme, which provided food for the war effort.
Major Vercoe begins: "Before the development of this country was started, it was just a wasteland - no cultivation whatever. And you can see what development has done for the land in its present state." He says the scheme started through the vision of Sir Apirana Ngata and others, who recognised the possibility in the land. Now the land is generating a considerable amount of produce including dairy, lamb, and and wool. He then introduces kaumātua Ruhi Pururu, who speaks in Te Reo Māori (translated by Major Vercoe).
Ruhi Pururu's ancestors have lived in the vicinity of Rotorua for around 400 years. He says there was no farming in the area before the pakeha came. When Sir Apirana Ngata was Minister for the Māori people, he started this development with the intention of turning Māori back towards the land. He chose this area in the Arawa district for the development. Māori of different tribes were brought into the area to assist in the development, and encouraged the Arawa people to be "land minded". There was friendly competition among the different tribes to do their best in the development of their land. The aim was to get the work done at the least possible cost. Before dairying, traditional foods included birds and berries from the forest, and the fern root.