Original owners sought for ancient tools held at museums

The traditional owners of objects from the region’s past are being sought by Manatu Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage.

One of the items is a flake of chert — a hard, fine-grained rock. It shows evidence of use as a cutting tool and was found by archaeologists Tirimoana Pl John’s Hill.

The area has a strong Ma¯ori history. The archaeologists notified the ministry, and still have the flake.

The other is a rectangularshaped rock with a groove in it, which was probably a hoanga or working at the subdivision on St grindstone used for smoothing or sharpening other tools. It was found in the Retaruke River in the Ruapehu District and handed to the MTG Museum in Napier.

The museum notified the ministry, Manatu Taonga pou mataaho o te hua/deputy chief executive delivery Tamsin Evans said. This is an obligation for anyone who finds a taonga tuturu, or an object more than 50 years old that relates to Ma¯ori history, culture or society.

Finders are asked to take the objects to a museum within 28 days, where they can be assessed and the ministry notified.

Under the Protected Objects Act all such items belong to the Crown until the ministry decides what care and custody they need, Evans said.

Museums will often hold them until that is decided.

The ministry looks for traditional owners for them — usually iwi or hapu¯ from the area where they were found.

Claims of ownership for them can be made until February 3, and the ministry is also contacting possible owners directly.

If only one claim is made and it seems valid, the ministry will apply to the Ma¯ori Land Court for an order determining ownership and custody.

If conflicting claims are made, the ministry works with claimants to find a resolution.