There have been delays to flood protection works in Kaeō. Photo / Yolisa Tswanya
There have been delays to flood protection works in Kaeō. Photo / Yolisa Tswanya
Ancient Māori artefacts and traces of early European settlement uncovered during flood protection works in Kaeō have forced delays to the major infrastructure project.
The site is now likely to shut down over the winter period, with works to resume in spring.
Obsidian tools linked to early Māori occupation, withceramics and glass dating back to early European settlement, have been discovered during earthworks on the Kaeō Stage two Flood Infrastructure Project.
The ongoing project, by the Northland Regional Council, aims to reduce the impacts of flooding on Kaeō township and its residents.
The township is built on a flood plain and has regularly flooded for as long as recorded history.
The aim of the project is to help ensure the floods that do occur are less damaging and dangerous, as much as reasonably practical.
Ongoing work includes minor river management to prevent channel blockages, better land use to prevent new development that creates future risk and ongoing maintenance.
However, the archaeological discoveries, combined with persistent wet weather have slowed progress on the project with works now expected to pause and resume in spring.
NRC rivers project manager Meg Tyle said the scale of the archaeological finds had exceeded expectations.
“A range of features have been uncovered from different periods of time, including obsidian tools from early Māori occupation through to ceramics and glass from early European times. The artefacts that have been found are currently being processed by the project archaeologist.”
Tyler said archaeological discoveries had been anticipated because of the site’s location near a historic pā and early mission station.
“Archaeological artefacts are very common in Tai Tokerau largely because the region has one of the highest concentrations of early Māori settlement in the country ... however, the number of artefacts recovered/features identified has exceeded initial expectations.”
Stage one of the Kaeo flood risk reduction project. Photo / NRC
Carbon dating and final archaeological assessments are still underway and the full significance of the discoveries is not yet known.
Tyler said strict archaeological protocols were followed whenever material was uncovered during earthworks.
“Depending on the artefact/feature found, processes set out by Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga are followed. This can include stopping work immediately to prevent damage, covering the artefact to protect it, contacting Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga and contacting local iwi and hapū.”
She added that whether a site needed to be fully excavated versus monitored and recorded was guided by an on-site archaeologist, Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga and local iwi and hapū.
Local hapū and iwi have been involved in the archaeological authority and resource consenting process, including supplying cultural impact assessments and having cultural monitors on site/working directly with the project archaeologist.
Despite the discoveries Tyler said wet weather remained the biggest cause of delays.
