Owners of Whanganui taonga sought by Culture and Heritage Ministry

The MTG Museum in Napier is holding a taonga found in the Retaruke River until its owner can be determined. Photo / Duncan Brown

The traditional owners of objects that relate to the region's past are being sought by Manatu Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage.

One of the items is a flake of chert - a hard, fine-grained rock. It shows evidence of use as a cutting tool and was found by archaeologists working at the Tirimoana Pl subdivision on St John's Hill.

That area has a strong Māori history. The archaeologists notified the ministry, and still have the flake.

The other is a rectangular-shaped rock with a groove in it, which was probably a hoanga or grindstone used for smoothing or sharpening other tools. It was found in the Retaruke River in the Ruapehu District and handed to the MTG Museum in Napier.

The museum notified the ministry, Manatu Taonga pou mataaho o te hua/deputy chief executive delivery Tamsin Evans said. This is an obligation for anyone who finds a taonga tuturu (an object more than 50 years old that relates to Māori history, culture or society).

Finders are asked to take the objects to a museum within 28 days, where they can be assessed and the ministry notified.

Under the Protected Objects Act all such items belong to the Crown until the ministry decides what care and custody they need, Evans said. Museums will often hold them until that is decided.

The ministry looks for traditional owners for them - usually iwi or hapū from the area where they were found.

Claims of ownership for them can be made until February 3, and the ministry is also contacting possible owners directly.

If only one claim is made and it seems valid, the ministry will apply to the Māori Land Court for an order determining ownership and custody.

If conflicting claims are made, the ministry works with claimants to find a resolution.

It will continue to work with the potential claimants and interim custodians of these two objects, Evans said.