Jane and Peter near the limestone rocks where examples of Māori rock art drawings have been found. Photo: Cosmo Kentish-Barnes
In South Canterbury, there are hundreds of Māori drawings on limestone rock - some of which could be up to 1,000 years old.
Peter Evans believes it was his grandfather who discovered the ancient drawings on cliffs that overlook his Pareora Gorge sheep and beef farm.
His grandfather developed an interest in rock art beyond what was on the family farm and passed his curiosity on to his children.
"He and his children in the 1920s went searching the area for rock drawings ... as they knew they were special and unique," Peter says.
When they found new sites they didn't tell many people for fear the drawings would be graffitied over and damaged.
Jane and Peter above their farm. Photo: Cosmo Kemtish-Barnes
"A bit later on, an artist named Theo Schoon stayed with the family and he went round the area and recorded them and may have even touched up some of the drawings, so they wouldn't disappear".
Another theory is that Schoon touched drawings up (with crayons) so that he could take better photographs of them.
Peter's wife Jane says he was employed by the Department of Lands and Survey to find and photograph the drawings.
"He would stay with families around the area and, in exchange for his board, he would do portraits of family members."
Rosemary Clucas in the Valley of the Moa. Photo: Cosmo Kentish-Barnes
Today, Rosemary Clucas from Environment Canterbury advises landowners on the potential impact of irrigation and farming on limestone rock art.
She has worked with the Evans to establish some agricultural buffers around the sites.
"They sought a land use consent to farm and as part of that they required a farm environment plan ... and the plans under the recent changes now include provisions for rock art and mahinga kai".
Now, metal fences protect the rock art and the Evans have adapted farming practices to safeguard the drawings.
"We do have irrigation on this farm so we do have to get consent for certain activities now but where they are here they're in a very safe place," Jane says.
A fence protects a rock art site in the Valley of the Moa. Photo: Cosmo Kentish-Barnes
