Site Distribution

Case study—Waihou River

Few areas within the Hauraki region have been studied in sufficient detail to allow description of the settlement pattern over time. One such area is the lower Waihou River where archaeology has been used in conjunction with Land Court records to outline an occupation sequence based on political expansion of Marutuahu tribes and environmental change over time (Phillips 1994).

There is no direct evidence yet for pre-1450 AD settlement in the Waihou area but it is implied by the presence of sites on the east coast Coromandel and islands of the Hauraki Gulf. From about 1450 AD undefended settlements were situated on natural shell banks near the Waihou River mouth, evident from the lower occupation level of Oruarangi and forest clearance at Hurumoimoi (Kirikiri). Between about 1550–1650 AD pa were constructed, the river banks were gardened and undefended settlements were situated on elevated levees beside the river.

The arrival of Matutuahu tribes into the Hauraki area around 1650–1700 AD led to changes in the settlement pattern which coincided with environmental changes in the lower Waihou River, and resulted in adaptations to living sites and an increase in the number of pa. There is evidence for a slight rise in sea level, resulting in settlements being raised up to 700 mm by the addition of shell mined from natural shell banks. Expansion southwards along the river necessitated construction of pa to provide protection. The first occupation of Raupa was around this time. Over the next 50 to loo years more pa were built in the area reflecting warfare and competition both internally and externally. By the end of the 18th century Marutuahu were a powerful political force, with a fearsome reputation in the Far North (Collins 1798). Internal political power may have been controlled by an ariki whose influence extended over an area of the river. In 1801 Oruarangi was the residence of such a chief (Missionaries' Journal ms); in 1820 an unnamed chief at Raupa also controlled a stretch of the river, as did Te Puhi and Te Horeta near the mouth of the Waihou (Elder 1932:255).

The environment in the early 19th century continued to deteriorate, with bush clearance in the hill country to the east of the Waihou River leading to erosion and heavy sedimentation in the tributaries and the main river. The Whakarewa Channel on the eastern side of Tuatahi Island adjacent to Oruarangi became progressively silted up until by the 1870s it was completely dry land.

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