Greater Wellington Freshwater Plan Review Archaeological Scoping Study Prepared by Andy Dodd Subsurface Ltd August 2011 Contents Introduction .......................................................................................................................................... 3 Project brief and layout of this report .................................................................................................. 3 Method of research............................................................................................................................... 3 Results .................................................................................................................................................. 4 Eel weirs ........................................................................................................................................... 5 Eel channels ..................................................................................................................................... 5 Eel storage ponds ............................................................................................................................. 6 Canoe find spots ............................................................................................................................... 6 Canoe landings ................................................................................................................................. 6 Canoe manufacture .......................................................................................................................... 7 Sources for stone tool manufacture .................................................................................................. 7 Cultivation ........................................................................................................................................ 7 Midden/oven sites ............................................................................................................................ 7 Swamp and island pa........................................................................................................................ 8 Fords................................................................................................................................................. 8 Bridges ........................................................................................................................................... 11 Dams and weirs .............................................................................................................................. 12 Water supply reservoirs ................................................................................................................. 12 Inundated sites................................................................................................................................ 12 Power generation............................................................................................................................ 12 Water races and tunnels ................................................................................................................. 12 Flour mills ...................................................................................................................................... 13 Flax mills........................................................................................................................................ 14 Saw mills ........................................................................................................................................ 14 Ship building .................................................................................................................................. 14 Wharves and jetties ........................................................................................................................ 14 Shortlisted archaeological sites for further assessment...................................................................... 15 Discussion .......................................................................................................................................... 24 Conclusion ......................................................................................................................................... 24 Annotated bibliography...................................................................................................................... 25 Frontspiece: Wardell bridge, Te Whiti (Wairarapa Archives 90-017-150) 2 Introduction Greater Wellington Regional Council is presently undertaking a review of its Freshwater Plan. The operative Regional Freshwater Plan for the Wellington Region 1999 did not contain any reference to historic heritage, but since that time, the proposed Regional Policy Statement for the Wellington Region 2010 has included a policy that requires that places, sites and areas with significant historic heritage values should be identified (Policy 20). Places, sites and areas with significant historic heritage values include built heritage, archaeological sites, and sites of significance to tangata whenua. A revision of the history associated with water supply in the Wellington Region has been carried out (Cooke 2007), and initial scoping of built historic heritage has been undertaken by Michael Kelly and Peter Cooke (2009), which included a shortlist of 40 freshwater sites for consideration. Michael Kelly and Miranda Williamson have been researching these sites, while Chris Cochran and Russell Murray are describing and assessing the sites’ physical heritage values. This archaeological scoping report was commissioned by Laura Paynter, Policy Advisor, Greater Wellington Regional Council to consider archaeological remains associated with the region's freshwater bodies and prepare a preliminary list of archaeological sites. While this report incorporates both Maori and non-Maori site types it does not include waahi tapu or consider the significance of sites to Maori. It is anticipated that work to inform this aspect of the plan will occur separately, and will be provided by tangata whenua. Project brief and layout of this report The project brief requires a preliminary list to be provided which identifies potentially significant archaeological sites for further investigation, and an annotated bibliography of principal sources consulted during the project. The layout of this report is as follows: The methodology used in compiling the list of potentially significant archaeological site is briefly described. Broad categories of site types are outlined with reference to prominent examples. While it is acknowledged that Maori did not discontinue their traditional activities at the arrival of Europeans, it is nevertheless useful for the purpose of this report to separate categories into traditional Maori types and sites associated with European industry, and it is hoped that this will facilitate the inclusion of a representative sample of both categories in any short list or schedule. A discussion of the types of site, their potential for survival, mechanisms for protection and recommendations for further investigation is included in this report. Method of research A preliminary list of 40 built heritage sites was compiled by Kelly and Cooke (2009) prior to commencing this review. Of these, 9 sites were recorded in the New Zealand Archaeological Association (NZAA) site recording scheme, and 7 were included in the New Zealand Historic Places Trust Register of historic places. The NZAA site recording scheme (Archsite) and New Zealand Historic Places Trust register were reviewed for recorded sites associated with freshwater bodies in the Wellington Region. This resulted in an additional 14 sites identified as potentially suitable for listing. The remaining sites were identified from secondary histories and regional and thematic overviews. The most valuable sources of information not reviewed by Kelly and Cooke have been included in the annotated bibliography. 3 Results Of the 40 sites originally identified by Kelly and Cooke, 8 are recorded archaeological sites. Nine sites pre-date 1900, and on this basis are afforded blanket protection under the archaeological provisions of the Historic Places Act 1993. Regardless of age some of these sites also have associated archaeological values. Archaeological significance of the sites on this list have been considered separately and additional details provided in the table below. Name Date Water body NZAA NZHPT Archaeological values Karori lower dam 1874 Karori reservoir R27/276 No.7750 Yes, recorded archaeological site Karori upper dam 1908 Karori reservoir R27/276 No.7749 Yes, recorded archaeological site Karori water tunnel 1872 Yes, nineteenth century features present Diversion tunnel WWII Kaiwharawhara stream Walls and linings Kaiwharawhara stream Water works dam 1884 Wainuiomata River R27/332 Yes, recorded archaeological site Morton dam 1911 Wainuiomata River R27/416 Yes, recorded archaeological site Piping Wainuiomata to Wellington 1878 Wainuiomata River Yes, nineteenth century features present Piping Wainuioata to Karori 1912 Wainuiomata River Wainuiomata water race 1911 Wainuiomata River Wainuiomata pressure chamber 1911 Wainuiomata River R27/416 Yes, recorded archaeological site Wainuiomata to Hutt Park tunnel 1930s Wainuiomata River Wainuiomata to Hutt Park tunnel 1970s Wainuiomata River Orongorongo weir and intake 1926 Orongorongo River Orongorongo river tunnels