A centuries-old Polynesian waka described as one of the most significant archaeological discoveries ever made in the Pacific remains buried beneath coastal dunes on Rēkohu Chatham Islands, with one elder saying it could be “consigned to a watery grave” if it isn’t excavated soon.
1News understands the Ministry for Culture and Heritage has plans to resume excavation of the buried waka, but not until late 2027. The full excavation is then expected to take place over three to four years.
Until then, the ministry says it is prioritising work to better understand the site, including archaeological surveys to assess the extent of material still buried beneath the dunes.
The ministry was forced to reveal its plans for the waka, following a Maori Land Court ruling that said it was responsible for the entire vessel, including the sections still buried beneath the dunes.
'We've put a million doilars in so far'
An estimated 90% of the vessel remained underground nearly two years after it was first discovered, despite growing concern from local residents, archaeologists and Moriori that erosion threatened the site.
Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Paul Goldsmith said the Government had already committed significant funding to the project, but said major decisions about excavation costs would require more information. He said any potential funding wouldn’t be allocated until next year’s budget.
"We put a million dollars into it so far, but there's a wide range of estimates as to how much it might cost and that's something a government has to make decisions about once we know the details," he said.
It’s estimated the excavation would cost approximately $3.5 million.
'Govt is sitting on its hands'
But Moriori elder Maui Solomon said the Government had failed to act with the urgency the discovery deserved.
"The Crown's stance is quite shameful. To say they're going to spend the next three or four years allocating funds to bring it out of the ground, when the big danger is that it could be washed out to sea."
"The most significant find in the history of Aotearoa New Zealand is at risk because this Government is sitting on its hands," Solomon said.
"If it were in mainland New Zealand, a Māori waka or the Endeavour ship, there would be no question. It would be out of the ground already."
The waka was uncovered in August 2024 after local resident Nikau Dix noticed a carved figurehead and other artefacts emerging from an eroding creek bank. A brief archaeological excavation recovered more than 850 pieces from the vessel before the site was reburied for protection.
His father, Vincent Dix, whose land adjoins the Department of Conservation beach where the waka lies buried, said he’s regularly finding parts of the waka on the shore after a rain event, and more would be lost if the excavation was delayed by another year.
'A lot does go in the ocean'
“Last year we did lose a lot. We have shored up the edges of the dunes with sand-bags which should slow down the erosion, but will lose a bit over the next year,” he said.
“It all depends on the weather. If it’s northerly and big seas, that’s when we lose a lot. A lot does go in the ocean”.
He said he’s pleased progress was being made on a timeline from the Ministry but said “it would better if was this year”.
Solomon said it would only take one storm, and it all could be lost to the ocean.
A full archaeological report was expected in February this year, but has yet to be completed.
Ownership of the waka remained the subject of competing claims before the courts, something Solomon said was complicating efforts to recover it.
"If we had interim ownership, Moriori would be prepared to fund excavation ourselves," Solomon said, describing the process as being "jammed in a quagmire" by legal disputes and delays.
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