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Archaeological Assessment for site QO5-781Moturua Island.
Prepared By:
Andrew BlanshardKai-arahi Te Ao TawhitoHistoric Ranger
Bay of Islands Area Office
Te Papa Atawhai/Department of Conservation
P.O. Box 128
34 Landing Road
Kerikeri
New Zealandablanshard@doc.govt.nz
Phn: 09 407 4866
Fax: 09 407 7938
Mob: 021 0242 7381
Bay of Islands Area
Area Office, P.O. Box 128, 34 Landing Road, Kerikeri, New Zealand1Telephone 09-407 8474, Fax 09-407 7938
Table of ContentsIntroduction
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List of FiguresFigure 1:
Area Location Map 4
Figure 2:
Moturua Island 5
Figure 3:
Waiwhapuku (Army) Bay Map 5
Figure 4:
Whaiwhapuku (Army) Bay site location 11
Figure 5:
Whaiwhapuku (Army) Bay looking South 11
Figure 6:
Example of completed toilet block 12
Figure 7:
Toilet block framing plan 13
Figure 8:
Toilet block profile plan and elevation diagrams 14
Figure 9:
Toilet block cross section and floor plan 15
Bay of Islands Area
Area Office, P.O. Box 128, 34 Landing Road, Kerikeri, New Zealand2Telephone 09-407 8474, Fax 09-407 7938
Bay of Islands Area
Area Office, P.O. Box 128, 34 Landing Road, Kerikeri, New ZealandTelephone 09-407 8474, Fax 09-407 7938
3
Introduction
This assessment was conducted by the Department of Conservation’s HistoricRanger in the Bay of Islands office. Its purposes is to assess the archaeologicalimpact of a proposed toilet block in Waiwhapuku (Army) Bay, Moturua Island. Theproposed work is part of an ongoing upgrade program which has already improvedthe track that circumnavigates the island. The toilets are a part of the next step in thisupgrade.
Background
Moturua Island Scenic Reserve lies in the inner Bay of Islands on the east coast of Northland (Figure 1). Moturua Island is the second largest island in the Bay of Islands with total area of 150 ha of which 135 ha is managed by the Department of Conservation the remaining 15ha is in private ownership. The islands geography isgenerally steep, with six small bays present around the perimeter. The northerncoast which faces the open sea has high, rugged cliffs with rocky outcrops, thesouthern end of the island is more sheltered and faces the mainland. The vegetationcover ranges from well established bush in the south western corner to regeneratingManuka/Kanuka scrub in the north. Most of the bays are backed by a ‘back beach’which are to a greater or lesser degree covered in Kikuyu.Moturua was purchased from the Cross family in 1968 and gazetted as a scenicreserve in 1979, when it was placed under the management of the Bay of IslandsMaritime and Historic Park. Like most of the islands in the Bay, pastoral farming hasbeen a dominant feature on this island for much of last century. In late 19
th
and early20
th
century the land was cleared, established in pasture and grazed primarily withsheep although cattle where also present at times. In 1972 grazing ceased and stockwas removed, leaving native vegetation to recover through natural processes. Thisregeneration has been remarkably rapid. It has meant that much of the archaeologythat was recorded during the 1960’s and 70’s has now been obscured by the ever increasing bush line.Moturua Island has played a significant role throughout New Zealand’s history andprehistory. Information suggests a long history of human occupation of the islandfrom the earliest Polynesian settlers, to the development of a distinctly Maori culture,and through into the early European contact period. In the late 17
th
and early 18
th
century Moturua was visited by both Cook and du Fresne. Moturua has long beenthe site of defensive structures, with six pa (constructed prior to European arrival)and, more recently, a mine control station built during the Second World War. Thearchaeological and historical significance of the island is discussed in detail below.
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