Stent Road (Warea)

Stent Road is named after the Stent family, whose 862 acre “Waiweranui” estate was located in Wārea. In 1883, John E. Stent sold the Wārea estate along with other land in South Taranaki. Stent had suffered huge financial losses in purebred Shropshire sheep livestock sales and bankruptcy was looming.

In the Hāwera courthouse two years later Stent addressed his creditors and explained that he had “never kept any books of account”.  It was agreed by those gathered that his situation was due to the depreciation of the value of his stock and over-enthusiastic speculation. It was decided to sell his stock, raising enough to repay creditors, and to grant Stent a small allowance until matters were settled.

At this point, news of Stent all but disappears until nearly two decades later, when reports filter through from Argentina about the bright prospects for young colonials. Among the success stories was one of former Hāwera farmer, Mr Stent, who managed a 35,000 acre estate “El Dorado” situated in Vedia, west of Buenos Aires. The property was now prosperous due to the quality of the herd – around 14,000 Shorthorn cattle and a large flock of Stent’s favoured Shropshire sheep.  Eventually Stent was able to purchase his own estate, a 2250 acre property called “Los Robles”. 

Today, the road leading to the popular surfing spot has been marked by a large sandstone rock. A deterrent for any would-be-pilferers who might try their luck in taking home a street-sign souvenir.

This story was originally published in the Taranaki Daily News.