Hamurana

When the Larkin brothers were considering development opportunities for their property at Hamurana, on the northern shore of Lake Rotorua, they approached InSitu Heritage to carry out an archaeological assessment of the land and to provide guidance for the project through RMA and Heritage New Zealand consenting processes. This included providing some guidance around early engagement with Ngāti Rangiwewehi to discuss the land development plan.

There were no recorded archaeological sites on the land, but the presence of sites nearby and the scale of the proposed development meant that our assessment recommendation was that an exploratory archaeological investigation should be completed to determine the extent and significance of any archaeological features.

The exploratory investigation identified that archaeological sites that had no visible surface features were on the land. The Larkins obtained an archaeological authority from Heritage New Zealand and a full investigation was completed by the InSitu team.

The excavation provided interesting results, with multiple crop storage pits and evidence of culturally modified soils. The results contribute important information to a developing understanding of the significance and extent of past Māori settlement and use of the Hamurana area, particularly inland horticultural activities within favorable environments on the lake margins. This information will be used to inform conservation and management of similar sites in the Rotorua area.

At the completion of the investigation reporting was provided to Heritage New Zealand; and further development of the property can now proceed.