Jason Momoa filming in Elliot Bay leads to recovery of kōiwi

Plans to film Jason Momoa’s Yenedakine: Chief of War series at Elliot Bay in the Far North have led to the recovery of kōiwi belonging to 38 individuals.

Kōiwi were found in the sandbank at Te Akau – the whenua also known as Elliot’s Farm, south of Rāwhiti. There is no way of knowing when the kōiwi were buried because no radiocarbon dating has been undertaken for the site.

Rana Rewha (Ngāti Kuta), kaitiaki (guardian) for Northland kōiwi, was carrying out a cultural assessment at potential filming sites when he was approached by a farmer who, along with members of the public, had been finding kōiwi in the area.

Kōiwi have been recovered from the dunes at Elliot Bay (pictured) but many more remain on the beach. Photo / Tania Whyte

Rewha said they were aware kōiwi had been eroding from the Te Akau era for decades. Severe weather events had exposed kōiwi.

Ngāti Kuta/Patukeha were notified about the accidental discoveries and kōiwi were placed in a safe area for future reburial which has taken place.

Thirteen kōiwi were initially identified eroding from the bank at Te Akau. All of which were recovered between August and September this year along with other additional kōiwi that were not initially identified but were also eroding. Recoveries only take place in circumstances where kōiwi are disturbed, such as erosion.

“During the dig, we found 38 individuals,” Rewha said.

He said they were from a wide range of ages.

The kōiwi were interred in many different burial positions which included sitting and foetal positions, which is said to be not uncommon for Māori-era burials.

The recovery was carried out by Rewha and BioArch South bio-archaeologist Rebecca Kinaston with the support of Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga and hapū members. All of the recovered kōiwi were reburied by Ngāti Kuta/Patukeha.

A process is currently under way to apply for an Archaeological Authority to construct a fence to protect the site and register the site as a wahi tapu.

Rewha said they were still trying to get a full understanding of the site where the kōiwi were found.

While there are no results yet for the dates of the site, it is believed to be very old with the oldest parts likely dating back to the early period of Polynesian settlement of New Zealand in the 13th and 14th century AD.

However, no comment can be made about the date for the earliest burials at the site.

Ancient DNA and isotope tests, which Rewha said had been accepted by hapū, would help them unravel the mysteries.

“We can find out what they ate 800 years ago and where that food source would’ve been at that time. Was it from the islands? Or was it from New Zealand?”

That information could show the movement of the people and who they were trading with at the time.

Rāwhiti hapū Ngāti Kuta and Te Patu Keha are the ancestral and current hapū of the bay. Rewha said whānau and hapū were involved in the recovery.

Rewha’s knowledge about kōiwi protocol harks back to his younger days when he would accompany his grandfather to collect taonga or kōiwi found in Te Rāwhiti.

He said it was better to keep all kōiwi closer to where they were connected to, such as the bays where they were found or the pā sites.

He said people who had potentially found kōiwi should first contact the landowner, local kaitiaki from the hapū, and Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga, which would arrange an assessment and complete a report to police.

*This story has been updated as further details have been made available.

Karina Cooper is the news director and covers breaking and general news for the Advocate. She also has a special interest in investigating what is behind the headlines.