pa sites, or redesigning pa sites with lawn mowing ramps for ease of access. There is no record of local Maori being consulted over how the sites could be managed. The value of these sites was seen by the board in terms of attracting tourists to the area:

Bowentown has historical interest in its Maori earthworks. An ancient communication trench, now largely filled, runs across the top of one of the hills and there is a series of 15ft. wide terraces around the hill which, when cleared and grassed will make picnicking spots.¹¹¹

If Maori had been consulted it is quite possible that they would have seen the transformation of significant occupation sites into picnic areas as an inappropriate development. This is a matter on which the claimants may wish to present oral evidence to the Tribunal.

Prior to the 1970s there is little to show that any plans were made for the protection of these sites. Various boards have at times responded to the input of outside institutions such as the New Zealand Archaeological Association, Waikato and Auckland Universities’ Earth Science Departments, and the Historic Places Trust. Surprisingly, there is no record of local Maori being consulted about the significance of the sites and how they could best be preserved. Protecting these pa sites was not a priority for the board. Between 1950 and 1970 the main concern of the board was to provide recreational facilities on, and earn revenue from, the domain. They encouraged tourists to the area by building campsites, roads and the necessary amenities.¹¹² Further revenue was gathered by leasing parts of the domain for grazing cattle and the extraction of sand.¹¹³ These revenue gathering measures had a detrimental effect on the pa sites (see figure 8).

In 1972 archaeologist Janet Davidson inspected the domain and drew the following information to the attention of Lands and Survey:

A large impressive and very important pa adjacent to the parking area on the eastern headland overlooking Anzac Bay and extending from it down the tip of the headland. If cleared and grassed this pa would be a very interesting one to members of the public. However machinery should not be used as this would damage the earthwork of the pa. Similarly, any extension of the parking area would damage it badly.

Possible small pa on access road to parking area mentioned above. Bulldozing of the access track has exposed and so badly damaged this site that it is probably beyond redemption.

Extensive shell midden deposits visible all along the edge of the dunes behind Anzac Bay. Most of the deposits are probably safely sealed under the grassed parking area on the flat. If artifact (sic) bearing layers should ever become exposed a proper archaeological exploration authorised by the Minister of Lands should be made to recover information before it is lost through the normal process of erosion and curio hunting.

Appears to be a small but strongly fortified pa on the ridge to the north of the waterskiing Beach but covered in thick scrub and difficult to see. The bulldozed track in the vicinity has cut through the ditches of the pa at the western and eastern ends of the site and along its northern sidecausing (sic) considerable damage.

¹¹¹ Automobile Association Bulletin, May 1962

¹¹² Waihi Gazette, 29 July 1954

¹¹³ Commissioner of Crown Lands to Director-General of Lands, 12 May 1954, LS 3/2/40