Story: Human effects on the environment

Ōtuataua stonefields

The Ōtuataua stonefields historic reserve is near the mouth of Auckland’s Manukau Harbour. The stone wall in the foreground was built by European farmers, but the cleared areas further away were pre-European Māori gardens. The remains of cooking areas, shell middens and kūmara (sweet potato) storage pits are visible.

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Auckland Council

by Ian Lawlor

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How to cite this page

Janet Wilmshurst, Human effects on the environment – Early human impact, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/12534/otuataua-stonefields (accessed 11 June 2026).

Story by Janet Wilmshurst, published 2 March 2009.

Comments

Tia Manda
30 August 2015

Sadly noted. Humans certainly have made a mess of the place. Best start cleaning our backyards before we can not breathe anymore nor have a drop of clean water to drink. Our impact is a ghastly one on every level. We're a cancer. thx Lone