14 Apr 2010

Remains blessed at at Torpedo Bay navy site

6:07 am on 14 April 2010

Auckland iwi have combined to bless human remains found during foundation work for a new navy museum at Torpedo Bay in Devonport.

The Historic Places Trust says last week's find of koiwi as well as moa bones, an adze head and other artefacts indicate Maori occupation of the site more than 500 years ago, making it one of the earliest sites found.

Waatea News reports kaumatua from Ngati Whatua, Ngati Paoa and Ngai Tai where joined by navy officers at the blessing ceremony.

Eru Thompson from Tainui says the navy was happy to stop the excavation of an area which is near where the navigator Kupe is thought to have landed about 900AD.