Court fight over Maori artefacts comes to an end

HISTORIC: This fern root pounder was one of several ancient taonga found during construction of the Kerikeri bypass in 2006. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

A protracted legal spat by several Northland hapu over the custody of ancient taonga that were uncovered during construction of the Kerikeri bypass has ended.

While the Maori Land Court ruled the taonga be kept in the custody of Te Runanga O Ngati Rehia for safekeeping and preservation, it could not determine either the traditional owners of the mostly wooden agricultural implements that date back more than seven centuries or the original landowners of the place where they were discovered.

Ngati Rehia hapu will preserve the taonga on behalf of other hapu and claimants to court proceedings who have been associated with the Kerikeri Kororipo area over the past 250 years.

They include Ngai Tawake Ki Tamaki, Te Waimate Taiamai and Kerikeri, Ngati Hineira, Te Uri Taniwha, Te Whanau Whero, Ngati Korohue and Ngati Rangi.

The taonga consist of nine ko (wooden implements for digging), three pounders, two footpegs, seven unnamed tools, two paddle weeders and one pou.

They were discovered during riverbank stabilisation works. A report prepared by the Northern Archaeological Research said it appeared the taonga related to a period of Maori cultivation and settlement of the riverbank and adjacent areas at some point between 420-750 years ago.

The Ministry of Culture and Heritage called for claims of ownership in November 2008 and received only one, from Ngai Tawake Ki Tamati. In September 2009, Ngati Rehia claimed it was the rightful owner. Other hapu subsequently filed applications for claim of ownership and custody.

Maori Land Court Judge Michael Doogan said Ngati Rehia had established a good claim to custody as it had appropriate proposals for safekeeping and preservation of the taonga in a suitable location, close to where they were found.

Nora Rameka, a trustee of Ngati Rehia, said her trustees were happy the matter had finally concluded.

Hone Mihaka, spokesman for Ngati Hineira, Te Uri Taniwha and Ngati Rangi, said the court's decision did not mean Ngati Rehia had won the legal fight.

"All the court has acknowledged is that they [Ngati Rehia] have the capability to look after those taonga of our ancestors, for and on our behalf," he said.