Treasure hunters dig up trouble

Kaiko¯ ura’s quake has unearthed a museumload of interesting finds – even the claim of a 4.5kg gold nugget. But, as Chloe Ranford discovers, those looking for a windfall might well be breaking the law.

TREASURE hunters on

Kaiko¯ ura’s coast are being asked to leave Ma¯ ori taonga in situ after the 2016 earthquake exposed artefacts that prompted a proliferation of digging.

Kaiko¯ ura Museum manager Stephanie Lange said about nine people had come into the museum with historic treasures uncovered along the coastline, including well-preserved bottles, marine fossils, leather shoes, and in one case – what one man believes to be gold.

‘‘Because of the uplift, they were released from between rocks or in sand,’’ Lange said. ‘‘We’re seeing a range of items coming in, and these are stretching over a long time period.’’

One of the beaches near

Kaiko¯ ura, a former whaling station and significant to Ma¯ ori, is considered rich in geology and archaeology.

In 2017, workers clearing boulders on a slip above State Highway 1 north of Kaiko¯ ura found human remains, thought to be pre-European Ma¯ ori, at a site called Tombstone Rock.

David Yates of Nelson believes he found gold buried on the Marlborough coastline in October.

He uncovered what he suspects is a 4.5kg gold nugget, alongside shoes and a gold seal, after following clues left in the book, Arawata Bill.

Yates refused to say where he found the treasure, in case others destroyed the site, but said it was ‘‘buried in the sand’’ with ‘‘no wrapping around it’’.

The museum is verifying its origins although, if it’s true then Yates could well be in the money. A similar sized nugget discovered in Australia 18 months ago netted the finder a cool $A300,000.

Lange said that although it was good Yates had brought his find to the museum, he should have notified authorities and requested they dig for it.

Ma¯ ori artefacts, human objects from before 1900 and human objects with ‘‘significant’’ value from after 1900 are protected in New Zealand and ownership of newly discovered taonga is regulated by legislation administered by the Ministry of Culture and Heritage.

A Manatu¯ Taonga Ministry of Culture and Heritage spokeswoman said while management of historical sites doesn’t fall under the Ministry’s responsibility, it does regulate ownership of newly found taonga tu¯ turu under the Protected Objects Act 1975.The Protected Objects Act applies to all taonga tu¯ turu found in New Zealand, and allows the ministry to ensure each item receives rightful care and conservation, and are reconnected with its traditional owners.

‘‘Taonga hold value to communities as they are an important link to tu¯ puna [ancestors] and whenua [the land], and also offer broad insight into the history of New Zealand,’’ a ministry