Story: When was New Zealand first settled? All images & media From page 1 – The date debate Pacific migrations Double-hulled canoe, Tonga, 1790s Types of evidence for dating New Zealand settlement From page 2 – Genealogical dating Kupe’s Sails Percy Smith’s genealogical dating Carved post, Arataki visitor centre From page 3 – Radiocarbon dating Accelerator mass spectrometer, Rafter Radiocarbon Laboratory Waikato Radiocarbon Dating Laboratory The Taupō and Kaharoa ash layers The stepping-stone islands Pou whenua, Raoul Island Wairau Bar, Marlborough From page 4 – Pollen analysis Analysis of pollen from Travis Swamp, Christchurch A magnified bracken spore From page 5 – Rat bones The Pacific rat Modern Pacific rat bones Archaeologist Bruce McFadgen From page 6 – Rat DNA Mummified rats, Pompallier House, Russell Computer model of a voyage Gnawed snail shells Gnawed seed From page 7 – Extinction and decline Moa bones The adzebill (Aptornis) ‘The inside of a hippah, in New Zealand’