Pa site scoured for more remains

The remains of at least 14 Maori have been found buried in an ancient pa site on a multimillion-dollar Western Bay development.

The discovery of a large site of Maori occupation in Omokoroa, 18km northwest of Tauranga, could shed fresh light on the area's history.

The Historic Places Trust has given permission for the site to be destroyed after an assessment by two archaeologists. Descendants of the pa's inhabitants are digging to uncover as many bodies as possible before earthmovers cover all trace of the village.

The discovery of the historic site will not halt the Lynley Park development as the pa was largely in pieces underground and not deemed by archaeologists as worth saving.

Maori have also indicated the development will go ahead.

Lynley Park was the site of a major auction last weekend, in which 33 of 70 sections on offer were sold for a total of $8.5 million.

The sites are in Pirirakau territory and the Te Puna-based hapu was the only Maori group consulted by Western Bay District Council and the trust before developers were given permission to go ahead.

Pirirakau hapu leader and historian Peter Rolleston said the developers have been very "understanding" about his hapu digging on the site.

Robert Bidois, a member of the hapu working to find remains, said four complete skeletons, eight skulls and parts of a number of other Maori had been found so far in 100 pits or defence trenches.

Mr Bidois stressed the importance of ensuring their ancestors were reburied and history preserved as much as possible.

"They are our hapu and we don't want to see them desecrated," he said. "We want our bones back. It's as simple as that."

Mr Bidois said the remains were being stored in a makeshift grave until the hapu had scoured the rest of the development.

The remains would then be taken to the nearest Maori cemetery and reburied.

The pa was originally found by an archaeologist commissioned by the trust to determine whether any Maori sites existed on the 50ha of planned Lynley Park subdivision.

When heavy machinery started to churn up earth five weeks ago, a defended pa site was unearthed.

Another site of Maori inhabitancy was found in a gully.

- NZPA