More skeletal remains found in Gisborne

More skeletal remains been uncovered at the Gisborne District Court extension site.

Earlier this year, the partial remains of one person was found during the first archaeological investigation of the site.

Ministry of Justice general manager of property and security David Stevenson said the ministry was following Maori protocols established under a memorandum of understanding.

The remains have been removed and will be held offsite for further examination and will be re-interred at a later date.

"The archaeologist will return later in the project to investigate a couple of remaining areas yet to be excavated."

Mr Stevenson said there was "no information on hand" to indicate it was a burial site.

"The graves are in a systematic pattern. The remains were located in a small area under a pathway that was not able to be excavated earlier."

The remains were about a metre down, and likely to date from between 1830 and 1850, he said.

"At this stage, indications are that the remains are Maori, though they will be examined further."

Te Runanga o Turanganui a Kiwa chief executive Ronald Nepe said he was unsure what would happen with the remains once the archaeologists were done with them.

"The blessing of the site has been done. We are just waiting on the archaeologist to finish and then the pakeke (elders) will decide what to do."

- NZPA