Significant archaeological finds have been discovered in Katikati as a result of earthworks in the area.
The work, which involved the building of a roadway and a car-parking area upgrade at end of Park Rd, had been suspended until a decision is reached on the next steps, said Scott Parker, council's manager, reserves and facilities projects and assets.
"The new discovery, including wharenui post holes, appears to pre-date European settlement and is therefore significant in terms of supporting Maori oral history," he said.
"There is no documented history of Maori settlement at this site, which is why it was not identified as a high risk earlier."
Due to the significance of the discovery, Heritage New Zealand was in consultation with local iwi, advising the council on its options. Mr Parker said these could range from a redesign of the planned upgrade through to a full archaeological investigation.