Archaeological Assessment
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NORTHPORT PROPOSED WESTERN RECLAMATION WHANGAREI HEADS: ARCHAEOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT Prepared for Northport Limited November 2020 DRAFT By Glen Farley (MA Hons) 321 Forest Hill Rd, Waiatarua, Auckland 0612 Telephone: (09) 8141946 Mobile 0274 850 059 www.clough.co.nz TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 1 Project Background ......................................................................................................... 1 Methodology ................................................................................................................... 1 Historical Background ........................................................................................................ 5 Maori Settlement ............................................................................................................. 5 European Settlement ....................................................................................................... 5 Archaeological Background .............................................................................................. 10 Previous Archaeological Work ..................................................................................... 10 Recorded Archaeological Sites ..................................................................................... 12 Physical Environment ....................................................................................................... 16 Field Assessment ............................................................................................................... 17 Field Survey Results ..................................................................................................... 17 Discussion and Conclusions .............................................................................................. 21 Summary of Results ...................................................................................................... 21 Maori Cultural Values ................................................................................................... 21 Survey Limitations ........................................................................................................ 21 Archaeological Value and Significance ........................................................................ 21 Effects of the Proposal .................................................................................................. 22 Resource Management Act 1991 Requirements ........................................................... 22 Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga Act 2014 Requirements ................................ 23 Conclusions ................................DRAFT................................................................................... 23 Recommendations ............................................................................................................. 24 Bibliography ...................................................................................................................... 25 i INTRODUCTION Project Background Northport Limited is proposing to expand its facilities in Whangarei Harbour. The overall development comprises two parts, being an eastern and a western reclamation. This report focuses on the western reclamation (Figure 1 to Figure 3). Northport is situated near Marsden Point, Whangarei Harbour. The facility is bounded to the north by the harbour, and to the east and west by the harbour and foreshore. To the south lies Ralph Trimmer Drive and the Port Marsden Highway, with additional port service industries and the Marsden Point Oil Refinery. The western reclamation footprint is approximately triangular with a total area of approximately 10.5ha. Design height of the land will match the existing Northport levels, being a minimum of 5m above chart datum. The land will be built using dredge spoil and imported material. This footprint will be described by the: • Mean high water springs point on the batter slope of reclaimed land, or • Seaward face of wharf structures, whichever is greater. There are two options for the use of this footprint; they are: 1. General cargo berth and general cargo land use (Figure 2). This option will utilise the full extent of the footprint and have a wharf on the northern edge only. The existing ship turning basin would be extended west to provide a berth pocket and manoeuvring space to approach and depart the berth. 2. Shipyard facility with a berth for a dry dock (Figure 3). This option has a reduced westward extent (by 50m) to allow for a berth on the western face of the reclamation. Two shipyard berths are located within the footprint, one for the dry dock itself, the other for ships undergoingDRAFT maintenance in-water. Dredging is required to extend the existing swing basin west and to create the berth pocket for the wharf on the western side of the reclamation. This dry dock will be used by both NZ Navy and commercial vessels and will be supported by some on-port shipyard facilities and operations. The majority of the shipwright works will be undertaken in facilities off Port but within the Port Zone at Marsden Point. An archaeological assessment was commissioned by Jared Pettersson of Enviser, on behalf of Northport Limited, to establish whether the proposed work is likely to impact on archaeological values. This report has been prepared as part of the required assessment of effects accompanying a resource consent application under the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA) and to identify any requirements under the Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga Act 2014 (HNZPTA). Recommendations are made in accordance with statutory requirements. Methodology The New Zealand Archaeological Association’s (NZAA) site record database (ArchSite), District Plan schedules and the Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga (Heritage NZ) New November 2020 Northport Western Expansion Assessment 1 Zealand Heritage List/Rārangi Kōrero were searched to determine whether any archaeological sites had been recorded on or in the immediate vicinity of the project area. Literature and archaeological reports relevant to the area were consulted (see Bibliography). Early survey plans and aerial photographs were checked for information relating to past use of the project area. A visual inspection of the property was conducted on 9 September 2020. The ground surface was examined for evidence of former occupation (in the form of shell midden, depressions, terracing or other unusual formations within the landscape, or indications of 19th century European settlement remains). Exposed and disturbed soils were examined where encountered for evidence of earlier modification, and an understanding of the local stratigraphy. Subsurface testing with a probe and spade was carried out to determine whether buried archaeological deposits could be identified or establish the nature of possible archaeological features. Photographs were taken to record the topography and features of interest. DRAFT November 2020 Northport Western Expansion Assessment 2 DRAFT Figure 1. Aerial showing Whangarei Heads and its environs and the location of Northport (source: Google Maps) November 2020 Northport Western Expansion Assessment 3 Figure 2. Layout showing proposed western reclamation with the general cargo scenario (the pink area is the berth pocket) DRAFT Figure 3. Layout showing proposed reclamation with shipyard scenario (the pink areas are the berth pockets) November 2020 Northport Western Expansion Assessment 4 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND1 Maori Settlement Whangarei formerly belonged to the Ngai Tahuhu people who landed at Te Arai in the canoe Tu Nui a Rangi in the 14th century, and whose rohe once extended from Auckland to about 80km north of Whangarei (Fletcher 2018: 17). Whangarei was a desirable place to live due to its sheltered harbour, ample marine and freshwater resources and temperate climate. However, from the 17th to mid-19th centuries the northern tribes were engaged in almost constant warfare and the positioning of Whangarei at the southernmost boundary of Ngapuhi tribal land meant that it was a focal point for campaigns against southern tribes and for retaliatory attacks from southern tribes from the Hauraki, Kaipara and Waikato seeking revenge. Great gatherings of up to 2000 to 3000 men would camp on the shores of the harbour, giving the harbour its name, ‘Whangarei Terenga Paraoa’, the swimming place of the whales, or the meeting place of the chiefs (ibid.) (see Figure 4 and Figure 5). Around 1750 the Ngati Ruangaio chief Te Ponaharakeke came from Ngapuhi of Orauta to live among the Ngai Tahuhu people on the western shores of Whangarei Harbour (ibid.). To avenge a perceived insult he called on Ngapuhi allies, including Ngaro-ki-te-uru and Tawhiro, to join him in battle, securing the area from Whangarei to Waipu and Waihonga to Tangihua, with the conquerors dividing the land between them (ibid.). Te Ponaharakeke and Te Tokaitawhio took the western shores of Whangarei Harbour from Te Awatawhiti to Mangapai (ibid.: 18). The latter lived at Otaika until his wife became pregnant, at which point he moved to the Hokianga (ibid.). However, the conquerors remained vulnerable to attack on the shores of the Whangarei Harbour, being at the southern limit of Ngapuhi tribal land and with no place to retreat except north. Many tribal leaders were killed in subsequent battles: Tawhiro and his nephew were attacked and killed by Ngati Maru