Story: Marlborough region

Wairau Bar: ancient rubbish dump (2nd of 3)

Wairau Bar: ancient rubbish dump

This midden (rubbish dump), at Wairau Bar on the Marlborough coast, dates from early Māori settlement, around 1300 CE. It includes the discarded shells of mussels, pipi, tuangi (cockles), tuatua and pāua. Other food remains found at the site are from seals, birds (including moa), fish, kurī (Polynesian dogs) and kiore (Pacific rats).

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How to cite this page:

Malcolm McKinnon, 'Marlborough region - Early Māori history', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/31750/wairau-bar-ancient-rubbish-dump (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Malcolm McKinnon, updated 1 Nov 2016