6.0 The significance of archaeological sites is based on criteria such as: archaeological values, context, integrity, importance to tangata whenua, and educational value¹⁹.

6.1 Gumbley has described the archaeological significance of the sites at Papamoa in his report. He identified a pattern of large prominent pa sites with ‘client’ terrace sites on the ridges leading up to them. The sites on the northern and eastern side of the property are part of this. On the western side there are no prominent pa, however there possibly were 3 pa overlooking the stream valley (one of the pa has been totally destroyed, one 90% destroyed and the third damaged by the construction of a fenceline²⁰). The valley floor itself has been quarried, but originally the streams fed into the Kopuaroa Stream, which in turn led to the Kaituna River. Clearly the area was important in the past, and the activities that took place here had a more than local significance.

6.2 The context of the sites is very important. Landscape archaeology, which views the settlements within the context of the whole landscape including the natural resources and use of different landforms, is an essential analytical strategy in order to understand Maori settlements.

6.3.1 The importance of the waterways should also not be overlooked: the springs, with their fresh drinking water, leading to streams with flax and eels, and the main transport routes along the rivers. All these were important in the economic system of the former Maori settlements.

6.3 There are probably no areas in New Zealand which have been totally unaffected by the impacts of post-European contact landuse, such as forestry, mining, drainage and farming. However, the damage that has already been done to the

¹⁹ Draft guidelines Clough 2001, Walton 2001.

²⁰ Phillips 1999.