Autumn 2023
In early March, the InSitu team headed to Tauranga for a hui with Ngāi Tamarāwaho, Tauranga City Council staff and Rachel Darmody from HNZPT to discuss the preparation of a Heritage Management Plan for Puketoromiro Pā (U14/326) in the Kopurererua valley. The hui included a site inspection, with the pā looking in great condition following the removal of large eucalypt trees, revegetation in native shrubs and grass and the instalment of a new ‘floating’ walkway.
Later in the month, we had a section 45 briefing for a forestry crew in Gisborne, accompanied by Hinemaia Dewes who saw her first example of a ‘super pit’ on site Y18/187! (picture left)
In early April, we travelled up to Auckland to support our colleague, Dr Andy Brown, who delivered a lecture as part of the Secrets of Stonehenge series at Auckland Museum. The lecture was very well received by the public, and it was great to see many fellow archaeologists there supporting Andy too (picture below)
Following this, Josie Hagan headed back to Gisborne, for another forestry related site visit, then back to the Bay of Plenty in time for the annual archaeological monitoring inspection at Onekawa Te Mawhai Regional Park, near Ōpōtiki. We had a great day, with Lynda Walter, Bay of Plenty Regional Council staff, the park grazing lessee and Ūpokorehe kaumatua enjoying strolling around the park in the sun, checking on the latest work projects and the condition of the archaeological sites, including Onekawa Pā (W15/72) (photo left).
Later in the week, we recorded three new pit and terrace sites (V15/1718, V15/1719 & V15/1720) in Rotoehu Forest, as part of the on-going ground truthing of a forest-wide LiDAR project.
InSitu had an active role in NZAA Archaeology Week this year, with a midden sorting event and public talk at the Whakatāne and Ōpōtiki Libraries, respectively. The midden sorting activity was during school holidays so was total chaos (photo below), but the feedback has been that kids really enjoyed it. The talk at the Ōpōtiki Library titled ‘A day in the life of an archaeologist’ was a packed event, with the addition of 22 children from St Josephs School, as well as a good turn out from Whakatāne U3A, who travelled to Ōpōtiki to attend the talk.
Lastly, May has been just as busy with archaeological monitoring under an authority (2023-343) at Hamurana near Rotorua revealing culturally modified soils; and a drone survey using near-infrared technology and aerial imagery at Mauao Historic Reserve, as part of the archaeological research project within the reserve. Professor Kate Welham from Bournemouth University joined us for the drone survey and the presentation of results to the Mauao Trust the following day.