tokoroa is one of the most recent towns in new zealand history. the township was established (circa) 1917 by the matarawa land company as a potential farming area; although a few families had already settled in the area after 1910, and a school with 9 pupils was founded in 1915 (later to become tokoroa east school). the land was found to be too poor for raising cattle or sheep due to its predominant pumice soils. however, agricultural science showed the land could actually be made to successfully support dairy cattle. the soil had serious deficiencies causing livestock to suffer from what became known as "bush sickness" (later found to be cobalt deficiency). in the 1930s, the deficiency was addressed, and subsequently, cattle farming then became profitable.