2.1 The valley of a tributary of the Kopuaroa Stream that cuts through the andesite hills at Poplar Lane was opened up for quarrying in the late 1950s (Fig 1). Fulton Hogan, the current owners of the quarry, wished to extend the operation.

• In February 1999, they employed Lynda Bowers to undertake an archaeological assessment.

• In April 1999, Fulton Hogan lodged an application to Western Bay of Plenty District Council and Bay of Plenty Regional Council for consents.

• In June 1999 submissions were received, among them several criticised the archaeological assessment.

• In July 1999 Fulton Hogan employed Ken Phillips, to undertook a further assessment and gave a statement of evidence, to the

• In December 1999, there was a hearing of the Special Joint Hearings Committee.

• Around the same time Warren Gumbley undertook archaeological research as part of a draft application to register the Papamoa Cultural Landscape - an area overlapping with the Poplar Lane property.

• In February 2000 four iwi groups and Fulton Hogan appealed the decision of the committee. Again the previous archaeological assessments were contested.

• In October 2000, Phillips undertook a second assessment that addressed some of the criticisms.

• In May 2001, an authority was issued by the NZ Historic Places Trust for the modification of one of the sites.

• In June 2001 the parties asked archaeologists to prepare statements for the Environment Court Hearing.

3.0 SUMMARY OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL STUDIES

3.1 1983-84 Historic Places Trust

3.1.1 The sites around Papamoa was first archaeologically recorded in 1983-84 as part of a survey undertaken by students under Dr Bruce McFadgen of the NZ Historic