Bay of Islands Area

Area Office, P.O. Box 128, 34 Landing Road, Kerikeri, New ZealandTelephone 09-407 0300, Fax 09-407 7938

February 2010Dear RickThis is an application for a section 18 authority for archaeological sites QO5 682 andQO5 71

.Background

This application for a section 18 is being driven by cultural concerns over the erosionof koiwi out of a recorded midden site on Moturua Island (Figure 1).

Figure 1 Moturua Island Location Map

The site in questions is QO5 682 (midden) and is located in Mangahawea Bay on theNorth Western end of Moturua, QO5 682 is in the southern end of Mangahawea Bay(Figure 2). The koiwi were discovered by Andrew Blanshard (Historic Ranger Bay of Islands Area Office of the Department of Conservation) on January 28

whilst doinga regular monitoring trip to the site. Ngati Kuta and Patukeha were alerted to their discovery on January 29

and a hui was held at Haratu Marae in Russell onFebruary 2

in order to discuss the best way to proceed. It was decided at this huithat a excavation should take place in order to secure these remains. A location near to QO5 71 (pits) was chosen as the re-interment location based on traditional historythat these are the locations of European burials probably relating to Marion Du

Bay of Islands Area

Area Office, P.O. Box 128, 34 Landing Road, Kerikeri, New ZealandTelephone 09-407 0300, Fax 09-407 7938

Fresne’s visit to the Bay of Islands in 1772. Because of cultural concerns thisexcavation and re-interment needs to be carried out as soon as possible.

Figure 2 Moturua Island showing location of QO5 682 and QO5 71

Archaeological background

QO5 682 has been previously excavated by McKay in 1981. Unfortunately thisexcavation was never formally written up, however there are several photos and fieldnote books from the excavation which allow us to roughly locate where the trencheswere placed (Figure 3 and 4). What we do know from these note books is that bothmoa and seal bone were recovered and a carbon date sample from oyster shellreturned a date of 1260 – 1390 (65% probability) 1220 – 1420 (95% probability).

Bay of Islands Area

Area Office, P.O. Box 128, 34 Landing Road, Kerikeri, New ZealandTelephone 09-407 0300, Fax 09-407 7938

Figure 3 showing 1981 excavation trenchesFigure 4 showing 1981 excavation trenches

Since the excavation in 1981 (Figures 3 and 4) there has been a large amount of erosion of the dune area. This has been caused both by wave action and by thesmall creek that runs next to the site, which during heavy rain events can and doesscour out the bank on which QO5 682 rests. See Figure 5 below for how the arealooks now.