Maori burial area finds become more likely

The unearthing of ancient Maori skeletons and artefacts is becoming increasingly common as developments and erosion expose burial areas.

The Historic Places Trust is now advising "finders" to treat the sacred remains with care.

In the latest discovery, a near-complete human skeleton unearthed by a 9-year-old boy last month at Castlepoint, east of Masterton, is believed to be Maori and more than 200 years old.

Jacob Campion of Lower Hutt dug up the bones when he stepped on a sharp object while playing on dunes at the northern end of the beach.

The remains were removed by police and are being investigated by forensic pathologists to determine the age, sex and race of the skeleton.

Carbon dating may still be needed, although local Maori want the bones eventually returned for reburial in "safe ground".

The trust, guardian of New Zealand's historic heritage places, said there were legal and cultural obligations for anyone who found human remains.

Such finds were becoming more common with increased development and erosion.

The find at Castlepoint had been handled with respect – a lesson on how to handle similar discoveries in the future, said the trust's regional general manager, Ann Neill.

"Though people are naturally inquisitive, there are careful guidelines over the discovery, storage and repatriation of human remains."

By law, anyone who digs up human remains must contact the trust and police. If the find is thought to be remains or an ancient artefact, it should be recovered and reported as soon as possible, she said.

"It's important to leave any recovery and investigation to the experts. These are also ancestors of the land who deserve to be treated with respect."

If the remains, as found at Castlepoint, were found to be from before the turn of the century and tangata whenua, the trust said it would work closely with iwi and local hapu.

"The trust shares the concerns with iwi that burial sites are treated with respect, and that handling and removing of koiwi tangata [ancient Maori skeletons] and historical artefacts do not become targets for fossickers."

- © Fairfax NZ News