Moturua Toilet Block Assesment Qo5 781

Archaeological Assessment for site QO5-781 Moturua Island.

Prepared By: Andrew Blanshard Kai-arahi Te Ao Tawhito Historic Ranger Bay of Islands Area Office Te Papa Atawhai/Department of Conservation P.O. Box 128 34 Landing Road Kerikeri New Zealand [email protected] Phn: 09 407 4866 Fax: 09 407 7938 Mob: 021 0242 7381

Bay of Islands Area Area Office, P.O. Box 128, 34 Landing Road, Kerikeri, New Zealand Telephone 09-407 8474, Fax 09-407 7938

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Table of Contents Introduction Background Archaeological context Investigation Survey Historical Significance Work Proposed Waiwhapuku (Army) Bay Toilet block technical specs Impacts on the Archaeology Mitigation Recommendations Conclusion Bibliography

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List of Figures Figure 1: Area Location Map Figure 2: Moturua Island Figure 3: Waiwhapuku (Army) Bay Map Figure 4: Whaiwhapuku (Army) Bay site location Figure 5: Whaiwhapuku (Army) Bay looking South Figure 6: Example of completed toilet block Figure 7: Toilet block framing plan Figure 8: Toilet block profile plan and elevation diagrams Figure 9: Toilet block cross section and floor plan

Bay of Islands Area Area Office, P.O. Box 128, 34 Landing Road, Kerikeri, New Zealand Telephone 09-407 8474, Fax 09-407 7938

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Introduction This assessment was conducted by the Department of Conservation’s Historic Ranger in the Bay of Islands office. Its purposes is to assess the archaeological impact of a proposed toilet block in Waiwhapuku (Army) Bay, Moturua Island. The proposed work is part of an ongoing upgrade program which has already improved the track that circumnavigates the island. The toilets are a part of the next step in this upgrade. Background Moturua Island Scenic Reserve lies in the inner Bay of Islands on the east coast of Northland (Figure 1). Moturua Island is the second largest island in the Bay of Islands with total area of 150 ha of which 135 ha is managed by the Department of Conservation the remaining 15ha is in private ownership. The islands geography is generally steep, with six small bays present around the perimeter. The northern coast which faces the open sea has high, rugged cliffs with rocky outcrops, the southern end of the island is more sheltered and faces the mainland. The vegetation cover ranges from well established bush in the south western corner to regenerating Manuka/Kanuka scrub in the north. Most of the bays are backed by a ‘back beach’ which are to a greater or lesser degree covered in Kikuyu. Moturua was purchased from the Cross family in 1968 and gazetted as a scenic reserve in 1979, when it was placed under the management of the Bay of Islands Maritime and Historic Park. Like most of the islands in the Bay, pastoral farming has been a dominant feature on this island for much of last century. In late 19th and early 20th century the land was cleared, established in pasture and grazed primarily with sheep although cattle where also present at times. In 1972 grazing ceased and stock was removed, leaving native vegetation to recover through natural processes. This regeneration has been remarkably rapid. It has meant that much of the archaeology that was recorded during the 1960’s and 70’s has now been obscured by the ever increasing bush line. Moturua Island has played a significant role throughout New Zealand’s history and prehistory. Information suggests a long history of human occupation of the island from the earliest Polynesian settlers, to the development of a distinctly Maori culture, and through into the early European contact period. In the late 17th and early 18th century Moturua was visited by both Cook and du Fresne. Moturua has long been the site of defensive structures, with six pa (constructed prior to European arrival) and, more recently, a mine control station built during the Second World War. The archaeological and historical significance of the island is discussed in detail below.

Bay of Islands Area Area Office, P.O. Box 128, 34 Landing Road, Kerikeri, New Zealand Telephone 09-407 8474, Fax 09-407 7938

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Figure 1: Area Location Map Bay of Islands Area Area Office, P.O. Box 128, 34 Landing Road, Kerikeri, New Zealand Telephone 09-407 8474, Fax 09-407 7938

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Figure 3: Waiwhapuku Bay (Army Bay) Map

Figure 2: Moturua Island Bay of Islands Area Area Office, P.O. Box 128, 34 Landing Road, Kerikeri, New Zealand Telephone 09-407 8474, Fax 09-407 7938

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Archaeological context Moturua Island has a high density of Archaeological sites. These range from Pa complexes to 2nd World War navel installations. In total there are 27 recorded sites including 6 Pa. In the second half of last century there have been numerous investigations and surveys undertaken on this island. Investigation The first investigations/survey undertaken on Moturua was carried out by Groube in the 1960’s and covered Paeroa Pa (QO5-39) and the surrounding Garden Soil sites (QO5-44 & QO5-46). These investigations were aimed at increasing our awareness relating to several different issues. Including the state of Paeroa Pa and whether it was possible to locate the chiefs store house that had been recorded in detail by members of the French expedition of 1772. As well as investigating the evidence for and the extent of the Gardening soils surrounding the Pa. These investigations were unsuccessful in that Groube was unable to locate the chief’s storehouse, but these investigations did give us an insight into the chronology of pa development and reuse which, previous to this, was unknown. The results from the garden soil layers were initially considered successful, however subsequent investigations have indicated that these results were at least partially in error. Groube collected material from these layers which was carbon dated. The results of these samples were dates of 1150 ±90 B.P and 525±89 B.P (later date revised from the original dates submitted, for more information www.waikato.ac.nz/cig-bin/nzcd/search). Because of the early nature of these dates, along with several other discrepancies these dates have been explained as probably coming from old wood. Groube’s investigations were never fully documented and it is necessary to tease out the information from the two booklets that were published to help fund the excavation (Groube 1964 & 1965). In the1970’s the gardening soil layers (QO5-44 & QO5-46) were re-investigated by Peters (1975). This investigation was aimed at gaining more accurate dating material, to recheck the date and context of Groube’s samples. Peters was able to obtain dates of 740 ±90 B.P and 510±70 B.P (both of these dates have been revised from the original dates published, for more information www.waikato.ac.nz/cigbin/nzcd/search). The samples for these dates came from the same layers (Layers 5 & 6) as Groubes, however only small twigs were used as samples for dating. During the course of an investigation granted as part of New Zealand Historic Places Trust Authority (NZHPT 1996/20), Johnson found layers similar to those described by both Peters and Groube in Opunga Bay (Johnson 1997). In Layer 5 Johnson got both Carbon and Obsidian hydration dating material. The carbon date was 890±60 B.P. and a calibrated date for the obsidian hydration sample was 542-412 B.P. Both of the dates confirm a 15th century occupation horizon. The later layers (Layer 2) were dated using the same methodology. The dates gained were, a carbon date of 670±50 B.P, and an obsidian hydration date of 324-223 B.P. This would suggest a terminus of agricultural activity of late 17th to early 18th century. Bay of Islands Area Area Office, P.O. Box 128, 34 Landing Road, Kerikeri, New Zealand Telephone 09-407 8474, Fax 09-407 7938

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These investigations throw light on the location of sites QO5-44 and QO5-46. They are at present shown as being located at Otupoho (Homestead) Bay and are, as both Peters (1975) and Johnson (1997) indicate, located in Hahangarua Bay. In the early 1980’s site QO5-682, an ‘archaic’ midden on Mangawawea Bay, was excavated. This work was carried out by Mckay in 1981 and was never published or formally written up. Despite the results never being published it has been possible to reconstruct the results on a limited scale. There were large amounts of faunal material recovered, especially from the lower levels. This included human, moa, fish and dog bone and large amount of shellfish. These remains were associated with hangi pits and possible floor layers. No carbon or other forms of dating samples were gained from this material. On top of a sterile cap of soil there was evidence of 19th century re-use of the site (bottle glass) was discovered. As can be gathered from the brief round up documented above, with the exception of the short paper written by Peters (1975) and Johnson’s 1997 NZHPT authority report, no information from the other numerous investigations has been published. What these different investigations do throw light on is the density of archaeology present on the island especially on the back beach areas. Survey There was sporadic recording of sites during the 1960 investigations. The first systematic survey was conducted by Leahy and Walsh in 1976. Further sites were recorded during Hayward and Wrights survey (1980), which focused on the offshore islets, and Roundtree (1983) continued the survey of the interior of the island. All three surveys noted that the stock that had been run on the island until 1972 had damaged a number of sites, but that the majority remained in good condition. Roundtree (1984) also highlights the fact that there are several areas of the island that have not yet been surveyed but due to their geographic location there is a high probability of sites being present. The number of recorded archaeological sites in any given area is only an indication of the total number present. This proved to be the case on Moturua when last year during the track upgrade project a previously un-recorded archaeological site in Mangawhea Bay (QO5-1368).

Bay of Islands Area Area Office, P.O. Box 128, 34 Landing Road, Kerikeri, New Zealand Telephone 09-407 8474, Fax 09-407 7938

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Historical Significance Moturua Island was visited by both Cook and De Fresne. Cook spent five weeks in and around the bay in late 1769 but appears to have only landed on Moturua once during that time (Beaglehole 1955: 217). Whilst there Banks observed that although kumara was the main crop, yams and taro were also cultivated. Banks also noted six aouta (Paper Mulberry) plants were present, this is the only time this cultigen has been recorded as being present in New Zealand (Roundtree 1984: 4). Cook records that approximately 40-50 acres of the island was under cultivation at the time of his visit (Beaglehole 1955). At the time of Cooks visit Ngare Raumati a division of Ngatiwai were powerful in the eastern Bay of Islands (Roundtree 1984) and had several settlements on Moturua. In 1772 Marion De Fresne spent nearly two months in the Bay of Islands with most of his time being spent in and around Moturua. He established a shore camp in Waiiti and Waipao Bay, as well as another on the main land at Clendon Cove. These encampments were the centre for the first sustained meeting between Maori and Pakaha. By this time Ngatiwai’s power was beginning to wane and Ngapuhi were beginning to enter the area (McNab 1914: 378). De Fresne’s establishement of a shore camp at Waiiti and Waipao Bay did not immediately lead to hostilities. It is clear from the ship records that the camp included a forge, hospital and guardhouse. As time progressed tensions between the two groups gradually increased. This was caused by several issues, including an anchor going missing from the camp at Clendon Cove and the subsequent French reprisals this included burning an ‘unoccupied’ village and taking a Chief (Rewhi) captive. Rewhi was Ngapuhi and it is though that this act influenced Ngapuhi from Waimate and the Hokianga in the massacre that followed (Lee 1983: 21). The relationship between the French and the surrounding Maori gradually worsened, this culminated when De Fresne and fifteen of his men were killed at ‘Te Kuri’s’ cove, after the French unwittingly broke tapu. News of the killing was brought back to the ships by a survivor. The French were unable to react immediately, their boats were still without masts and most of their stores and personnel were ashore. As they decided on a course of action canoe loads of Maori including Te Kuri (probably responsible for De Fresne death) surrounded the French camp on Moturua. Roux (De Fresne second in command) estimates that there were over 1200 men surrounding the camp. The next twenty four hours saw numerous skirmishes between the two sides, which culminated with the French attacking Paeroa pa. Roux estimated that approximately 250 Maori were killed with roughly 200 escaping. Two weeks later Roux ordered the ships to leave the Bay of Islands (McNab 1914: 435). These interactions had strong ramifications in the development of New Zealand as a colonized nation. The descriptions and charts documented by the French provide an invaluable insight into pre-European Maori lifestyle. However, although some elements of the French stay in the Bay of Islands were well documented, other elements were not. In order Bay of Islands Area Area Office, P.O. Box 128, 34 Landing Road, Kerikeri, New Zealand Telephone 09-407 8474, Fax 09-407 7938

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to attempt to rectify this a program of investigations is proposed and will be outlined later in this assessment. Work Proposed The Department of Conservation is planning provide toilet facilities for day visitors to the Island in Whaiwhapuku (Army) Bay. Waiwhapuku (Army) Bay is the most northerly bay on Moturua, it is bisected by a small intermittent stream and has an extensive back beach. Both sides of the stream are well covered by kikuyu with bush slowly regenerating from the gullies further inland. The bay offers good safe anchorage and this combined with its beauty are the reasons why it is Moturua’s most visited bay. Whaiwhapuku Bay was occupied by the Navy during the Second World War as part of the coastal defence strategy for the Bay of Islands. A mine observation post was built on the top of Hikurangi pa (QO5-64). The concrete pads for the ablution blocks and barracks situated on the back beach to the north of the intermittent stream still remain. There are numerous archaeological sites recorded in the bay including a series of terraces (QO5-781), several drainage/agricultural ditches (QO5-45 & QO547) (Figures 2 and 3). Due to the dense nature of the both historical and archaeological sites finding a location that effects neither has been difficult, especially when the toilets design requirements are also added to the equation. The location that has been chosen and described here is situated on the southern side of the intermittent creek that bisects the bay. Although close to recorded terraces (QO5-781) the location identified for the toilet block is not situated on the terraces themselves (Figure 7 and 8). The track that will lead to the toilets will go over these terraces. There will be no earthworks on the terraces themselves, there will also be close and on going monitoring of the track surfaces that leads to the toilets to insure that no erosion is taking place. Due to the density of the archaeology in the Bay there is a strong possibility of there being unrecorded sub surfaces features, especially so close to QO5-781 it is recommended that permission to modify be sought from the Historic Places Trust.

Bay of Islands Area Area Office, P.O. Box 128, 34 Landing Road, Kerikeri, New Zealand Telephone 09-407 8474, Fax 09-407 7938

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Figure 4: Waiwhapuku Bay site location

Figure 5: Waiwhapuku Bay looking South Bay of Islands Area Area Office, P.O. Box 128, 34 Landing Road, Kerikeri, New Zealand Telephone 09-407 8474, Fax 09-407 7938

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Toilet block technical specs The design of the toilet block was carefully considered. In order to disturb the ground as little as possible the toilet collection pan needs to be situated on a slope (See Figure 10) and be north facing. In Waiwhapuku Bay a location has been chosen where the natural topography means that the ground disturbance should be minimal yet it is still possible to maintain the northerly aspect as well as the fall height necessary for the collection chamber to work efficiently. The area of ground disturbance will be, approximately 3 by 4 meters. There will also need to be a track running up to the toilets this will probably be approximately 1200mm wide. The scraping of the soil and the shaping of the slope for the toilet will be done with a combination of hand tools and a small digger (1 ton).The track will be a weed-eated with no soil disturbance. For the toilet slope creation will still require a small amount of earth movement. In order to minimise the visual impact of the two toilets there will be a small amount of ancillary planting of low impact plants. When completed the toilet should look something like Figure 9 although without the fence.

Figure 6: example of completed toilet block

Bay of Islands Area Area Office, P.O. Box 128, 34 Landing Road, Kerikeri, New Zealand Telephone 09-407 8474, Fax 09-407 7938

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Figure 7: Toilet Block Framing Plan Bay of Islands Area Area Office, P.O. Box 128, 34 Landing Road, Kerikeri, New Zealand Telephone 09-407 8474, Fax 09-407 7938

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Bay of Islands Area Area Office, P.O. Box 128, 34 Landing Road, Kerikeri, New Zealand Telephone 09-407 8474, Fax 09-407 7938

Figure 8: Toilet profile plan and elevation diagrams

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Figure 9: Toilet Block cross section and floor plan Bay of Islands Area Area Office, P.O. Box 128, 34 Landing Road, Kerikeri, New Zealand Telephone 09-407 8474, Fax 09-407 7938

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Impacts on the Archaeology The design and location of the toilet have been carefully considered so as to lower the impact on the archaeology to the least possible. However because of the density of archaeological sites on Moturua, as well as the likelihood of sub-surface archaeology it is impossible to guarantee that there will be no impact on archaeology. The toilet block in Waiwhapuku (Army) Bay will visible but has been placed in a location that is as discreet as the archaeological landscape and the design requirements of the toilets will allow. There will also be a small amount of low impact, shallow rooting plants planted directly in front of the toilet block which will help to soften this structure from both the water and the track. Mitigation That before work is carried out a small scale investigation of the area that is to be disturbed be carried out, and any archaeological layers be fully recorded and sampled. Recommendations 1. That the Department of Conservation applies for a section 11 Permission to Modify from the New Zealand Historic Places Trust. As the location chosen is close to a recorded archaeological site. 2. A full briefing for all individuals working on site, on the types of archaeological sites likely to be encountered and what to look out for whilst the work is being carried out. 3. That all earthworks including planting be monitored by a archaeologist 4. That if any archaeology is discovered that work stops immediately so that the archaeologist on site make a full recording. 5. If any new sites are discovered that they are properly recorded, documented and registered with the New Zealand Archaeological Association 6. That tangata whenua are kept informed of any archaeological discoveries 7. At the end work a report is compiled and submitted to the New Zealand Historic Places Trust.

Bay of Islands Area Area Office, P.O. Box 128, 34 Landing Road, Kerikeri, New Zealand Telephone 09-407 8474, Fax 09-407 7938

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Conclusion This project has been designed from start to finish to have the lowest impact possible on archaeology. Moturua Island with its sandy beaches and sheltered anchorages is a favourite visiting spot for thousands of people each year. At present there are no toilet facilities on the island. This is presenting the Department of Conservation with a difficult and at times unpleasant management issue. It is also having a ongoing, low level impact on both the historic and archaeological sites as members of the public dig toilet holes in undesirable locations. The work proposed in this assessment would alleviate these issues. All recorded archaeological sites are being avoided. Although the toilet block will abut QO5-781 and will have a visual impact on the site. This can not be avoided as there are technical specifications for the toilet blocks that require it to be situated in certain locations (north facing, on a slope), and the rest of Waiwhapuku (Army) Bay is a myriad or archaeological and historic features.

Bay of Islands Area Area Office, P.O. Box 128, 34 Landing Road, Kerikeri, New Zealand Telephone 09-407 8474, Fax 09-407 7938

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Bibliography Beaglehole, J.C 1955

The Journals of Captain James Cook on his voyages of discovery. The voyage of the Endeavour 1768-1771. Cambridge. P 213

Groube, L.M. 1964

Archaeology in the Bay of Islands unpublished report Anthropology Department, University of Otago, Dunedin

Groube, L.M. 1965

Excavations on Paeroa village, Bay of Islands N.Z.H.P.T. Newsletter, June 1965 No.9

Haward, B.W.C. 1980 Eastern Bay & A.E. Wright

Archaeological sites on small islands in the of Islands, Northland. Tane 26

Johnson 1997

Archaeological Investigation of Sites N12/8 (QO5/46) and N12/35 (QO5/73), Opunga Bay, Moturua island, Bay of Islands. Northern Archaeological Research, Auckland

Leahy, A.L. 1976 Kerikeri & Walsh, W de C Wellington

Archaeological Survey Report Bay of Islands and

Lee, J. 1983

I have named it the Bay of Islands…Hodder and Stoughton, Auckland

McKay, J.

Field notes of investigation into site QO5-682 nd. Held at Auckland University

McNab, R. 1914

Historic Records of New Zealand, Vol II, Government Printer, Wellington

Peters, K.M. 1975

Agricultural gardens on Moturua Island in the Bay of Islands. N.Z.A.A. Newsletter 18 (4)

Roundtree 1984 Survey

Moturua Island Archaeological Survey. Lands and

Paihia area. Unpublished report, N.Z.H.P.T

Bay of Islands Area Area Office, P.O. Box 128, 34 Landing Road, Kerikeri, New Zealand Telephone 09-407 8474, Fax 09-407 7938

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Research Strategy Moturua Island as discussed in the archaeological assessment is an archaeologically complex island. Due to careful placement of the toilet block all known archaeological sites are being avoided. However due to the proximity of the terrace complex (QO5-781) it has been recommended that a permission to modify an archaeological sites under section 11 of the Historic Places Act (1993) be applied for. Before the toilet block is constructed a small archaeological investigation be carried out in the area that is to be disturbed. Any archaeological layers found will be recorded and sampled. If they appear to be part of a larger or more complex archaeological site than work will stop and the Historic Places Trust and Tangata Whenua will be contacted and the best way to proceed will be discussed. If any artefacts are uncovered they will be treated in line with the Protected Objects Act.

Bay of Islands Area Area Office, P.O. Box 128, 34 Landing Road, Kerikeri, New Zealand Telephone 09-407 8474, Fax 09-407 7938

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