NORTHLAND

Archaeological survey confirms significance of valley

A project to map the extensive archaeological features of a valley near Doubtless Bay in Northland is revealing the full extent of a network of settlements that once formed a significant population and economic base.

WORDS: John O’Hare

Peria School kids out in force exploring amazing heritage in their own backyard. Credit: Ariana Williams, Peria School In April 1793 two young rangatira – Tuki and Huru – were kidnapped by British sailors and taken from Northland on board the HMS Daedaus to Norfolk Island where, so the plan went, they would teach convicts to work flax.

As young rangatira, however, the two knew nothing about working flax, and it wasn’t long before Captain Philip Gidley King, Governor of New South Wales, realised that an embarrassing blunder had been made. The pair were returned to Northland in November that same year – but not without first talking to Governor King about their homeland, and even drawing a map identifying places of significance to them. One such place was a valley recorded as ‘Ho-do-do’ where, up to ‘2,000 fighting men’ resided.

“The ‘Ho-do-do’ area noted on Tuki’s map was in fact Ōruru Valley just north of Taipa – and it’s no surprise that this area would feature so largely in Tuki’s world view,” says Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga Northland Manager Bill Edwards. “The valley contained at least 70 pā sites in close proximity to each other, and the area was famed for its huge food production.” Today the valley looks much like any other rural New Zealand landscape with a mixture of conventional farming activities peppered with pockets of native bush. With a little help from technology however – and good old-fashioned archaeological research – the history of Ōruru Valley is increasingly being revealed.

“Northland archaeologist Leigh Johnson recorded many of the pā sites in the valley

A LiDAR image of Waikainga Pā. Credit: Simon Bickler

some years ago, and recently LiDAR scans of the valley have been completed by Northland Regional Council. “Simon Bickler of Bickler Consultants Ltd has processed the data using an archaeologist’s eye and the result is amazing as we are able to look through the vegetation to see the archaeological features,” says Bill. “The images and maps have confirmed our understanding of the full extent of settlement in the Ōruru Valley and the archaeological significance of this place.” Both Bill and Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga Northland Archaeologist Dr James Robinson had first-hand experience of the extent of the archaeological taonga some years ago when they were asked to record a pā site on private land belonging to retired farmer John Garton, who was also on the Heritage Northland Inc. committee. “John had told us about the pā site on his land which he had carefully fenced off on his own initiative to ensure livestock wouldn’t cause any damage to the site. He worked with us to measure and accurately survey the Waikainga pā on his land before he passed away a few years ago,” says Bill. “The site was in extremely good condition – and was probably typical of the 70 or so pā sites that reached up the valley. It was said that Ōruru Valley was so intensively settled that messages could be communicated by voice from pā to pā.” Recently, pupils of nearby Peria School joined Bill, James and Makere Rika-Heke of Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga, together with Selwyn Reihana of Te Paatu ki Kauhanga Trust, on a voyage of discovery to unlock the secrets of the pā site located on the Garton whānau farm.

According to Peria School Principal, Ariana Williams, the field trip was part of a larger journey the school is undertaking to discover the pūrākau/stories that make Ōruru and Peria so special. “The story of the name Ōruru speaks to the significance of the many pā sites in the valley. The local history of this area is significant to our students, our school and staff because it is what makes us unique and defines who we are. If we know where we are from, we know where we are going,” she says. “Life can make us disconnected from the whenua, the people and the places, however having experiences like this and learning about the special archaeology

"It was said that Ōruru Valley was so intensively settled that messages could be communicated by voice from pā to pā."

Waikainga Pā (004/1074) and heritage of the whenua around us, the students get to see that we have a rich and interesting story to tell. The stories we read are always about somewhere far away – but we have our own stories and uniqueness right here in our backyard.” Waikainga pā is a magical place according to Ariana – peaceful with a very special wairua.

“The students were really intrigued by the pā, the old relics, the kūmara pits and remnants of history. They were also really respectful of the site and our guides from Kauhanga Marae, Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga and Alan Garton as they shared stories about significant aspects of the pā.” The field trip is part of a commitment by the school to live out its values of kaitiakitanga/guardianship, manaakitanga/ hospitality and whakamanawanui/ courageousness through exploration of the local curriculum, according to Ariana. The project to survey the archaeological features in the valley, and to share this information with stakeholders and the wider public, is ongoing. n

A survey map of Waikainga Pā recording its key archaeological features. Credit: Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga