Deadline for claim to greenstone adze looms

A greenstone adze head found at Riversdale Beach joins a trove of almost 50 artefacts discovered in Wairarapa over the past three decades.
Ministry for Culture and Heritage spokeswoman Elizabeth Cotton said a single claim of ownership has been received so far for the adze head since its discovery was made public on Wednesday in Wairarapa to establish possession rights.
Applicants have until mid-February to lodge claims of ownership for the 19cm adze head, she said.
"The taonga will be significant to a number of people, which is one of the reasons why we advertise for claims for ownership."
Ms Cotton said a person walking with their family found the adze head wedged between rocks on Riversdale Beach.
Details surrounding the date and site of the discovery at Riversdale would not be made public, she said, as this could encourage fossicking deemed illegal under the Historic Places Act 1993.
The age of the adze head is difficult to determine with certainty and the ministry often "before processing the find" check the authenticity of taonga with experts at Te Papa Tongarewa museum, she said.
Ms Cotton said under the Protected Objects Act 1975, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage chief executive notifies interested parties of the discovery and publishes a public notice calling for claims of ownership to be lodged with the ministry within 60 working days.
Once claims have been received and any competing claims resolved, the ministry can apply to the Maori Land Court registrar for an order confirming ownership, which is largely an administrative process for which the ministry pays.
"If several claims for ownership are lodged and cannot be resolved, the ministry may, if requested by a claimant, facilitate the applications of any or all of the claimants to the Maori Land Court. This will require a court hearing.
If no claims for ownership are lodged within 60 working days, custody can be granted, she said, with "ownership" remaining with the Crown.
"We do not know how many claims for ownership will be lodged at this stage. The purpose of the public notice is to let people know that they can submit a claim."
Ms Cotton said since 1976, when the Antiquities Act and then the Protected Objects Act came into force, there have been 48 finds reported from the Wairarapa and Masterton area.
"These have been a variety of taonga, including a shark tooth necklace, worked bone, fish hooks, a comb, a ko or digging stick, and various adzes."