'Pink and White Terraces sand' at $1m on Trade Me

Sand touted as being from the famous Pink and White Terraces is reaching bids of more than $1 million on a website auction - but there are doubts about its authenticity.
A Te Arawa kaumatua is now warning people not to exploit Te Arawa history.
Two people have vials of pink and white sand on sale on Trade Me, claiming they are from the terraces, which were once considered the eighth wonder of the natural world and a popular tourist attraction prior to Mt Tarawera's 1886 eruption.
Two tiers of the bottom of the Pink Terraces were last week discovered by New Zealand and American scientists who were using underwater robots to map out the bottom of Lake Rotomahana as they looked for hydro-thermal vents and what could have happened to the terraces.
It was believed the terraces were destroyed in the June 10, 1886 eruption.
The vials were listed for sale after the discovery was announced.
One, listed by a Taranaki man, has fetched a bid of $1,001,600 while another listed by a Blenheim person has so far failed to attract any bids, with a starting bid of $143.
The Taranaki seller states he can have the sand authenticated.
Trade Me says it isn't taking the larger auction seriously as yet as it closes today and hasn't yet reached its reserve.
Te Arawa/Tuhourangi kaumatua Anaru Rangiheuea did not believe the sand was from the terraces. "I'm very disappointed ... It's not right. I wouldn't expect people to do this."
Anyone making such claims needed to be careful of enraging the spirits of dead Te Arawa, Mr Rangiheuea said.
"They need to be careful because there could be repercussions health-wise," he said.
"[Te Arawa ancestors] could cause a lot of problems for people."
Lake Rotomahana was a spiritual place for Tuhourangi and Ngati Taoi, who were "excited" by scientists' discovery of the terraces.
He was disappointed people were now trying to cash in on it, Mr Rangiheuea said.
"They are just taking advantage of the situation ... just trying to make a profit and capitalise on the history and findings of the scientists."
One GNS scientist, Cornel de Ronde, said it was doubtful the vial contained original sand from the famous terraces.
"You would expect it to be pieces of silica from the terraces not sand," he said.
Mr de Ronde said even if the sand was from the terraces it could probably never be confirmed.
"I can't say 100 per cent it's not from the terraces but it would be hard to authenticate. You can't date silica," he said.
He called the price so far being offered as ridiculous.
"They are just riding on the coat-tails of what we have done ... If someone gave me a million dollars I'd take them down in a submarine and get them a piece myself," he said.
Rotorua Museum's programme co-ordinator Ann Sommerville said she would be surprised if the sand was from the terraces.
"From what I understand the terraces were china-hard."
Trade Me spokesman Paul Ford said the million-dollar sand listing was being treated as a joke.
"We are keeping an eye on it," he said. "Most offers in this neck of the woods don't have a chance. They get withdrawn."
The auction has attracted more than 7000 views and 18 bidders and numerous questions about the authenticity of the sand. Trade Me contacted the Ministry of Culture and Heritage and was told if the sand was from the terraces it could only be sold within New Zealand and not taken out of the country.