In a small inlet in the Bay of Islands, clues and artefacts from the first known site of human settlement in Aotearoa are being uncovered.
The site known as Mangahāwea was first excavated in 1981.
And the moa bones, obsidian and tools found at the site indicate people first arrived here as early as 1250 AD - the last land mass in the entire world to be settled by humans.
James Robinson is the Northland Regional Archaeologist for Heritage New Zealand. He's been involved with three excavations at Mangahāwea, and speaks to Emile Donovan about what's been found so far.
Lead archaeologist Dr James Robinson at the dig site at Mangahawea Bay on Moturua Island. Photo: RNZ / John Boynton
