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Tuesday 14 February 2023 12:44pm

Archeology Professor Richard Walter, Mauraka Edwards, Diana Struthers, Dr Charles Radclyffe, Adam Keane and Associate Professor Anne Ford. 3 image
From left is Professor Richard Walter with Mauraka Edwards, Diana Struthers, Dr Charles Radclyffe, Adam Keane and Associate Professor Anne Ford.

The University of Otago’s Archaeology field school received a warm welcome to the site they will be exploring from 3 to 23 February at Doctors Point Beach, Waitati.

Mauraka Edwards, Rick Ngāmoki, Kane Holmes and Adam Keane from Kāti Huirapa ki Puketeraki gave a karakia waiata on the shores of Blueskin Bay.

Mauraka Edwards, who holds the kaihāpai cultural role with Kāti Huirapa ki Puketeraki, says the karakia “enables the archaeologists to feel safe”.

The site of the excavation is on land owned by the Waitati Beach Reserve Society, which seeks to preserve and enhance the area. Diana Struthers and Stephanie McConnon of the Waitati Beach Reserve Society were also in attendance to welcome the kaimahi and tauira of the field school.

Diana Struthers says, “The Society is thrilled to host the dig again and they hope this will continue for many years to come because they are contributing to a huge archive of knowledge of the local area.”

Archeology Kane Holmes, Mauraka Edwards and Adam Keane, Kāti Huirapa ki Puketeraki, leading a karakia waiata, Doctor’s Point 2 image
From front is Kane Holmes with Mauraka Edwards and Adam Keane, Kāti Huirapa ki Puketeraki, leading a karakia waiata, Doctor’s Point.


Dr Charles Radclyffe from the Archaeology Programme says they anticipate learning a lot more about the early Māori settlement of this part of Otago's coastline and subsequent migrations of Kāi Tahu and Kāti Māmoe in the area, which are recorded in oral histories and by sites such as Huriawa and Māpoutahi.

“These highly collaborative field schools are a great way of strengthening relationships and partnerships with Kāti Huirapa ki Puketeraki, as well providing community members field training,” says Dr Radclyffe.

Adam Keane, Kaitātai - Whānau navigator for Kāti Huirapa ki Puketeraki, says while he has read books and heard much oral history of the area, seeing the connections being made in the physical place is very meaningful.

“This partnering with the University is a great opportunity to put the pieces together and increase our knowledge for our whānau.”

Archeology Field school students Nigel and Neda 1 image
Archaeology Field school students Nigel and Neda.

Nigel and Neda are two of the field school tauira. They are both Master’s students and work as contract archaeologists in Christchurch. Their office manager did the Otago field school last year and recommended it to them. They both appreciate the opportunity to work with less time pressure, and to be working within a community and with local iwi. They are staying in Waitati at the Te Whare Wānanga at te Whānau Arohanui.

Associate Professor Anne Ford and Professor Richard Walter from the Archaeology Programme at Otago are leading the field school. They welcome visitors to the site and are happy to chat about the mahi happening at Doctor’s Point over the coming weeks.

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