Poverty Bay Maori are working with the courts department to manage the issue of human remains being dug up during the extension of the Gisborne District Courthouse.
One partial skeleton was found during an initial archaeological investigation, and six full skeletons and 12 other koiwi have been found so far as the foundations are being excavated.
Ronald Nepe from Te Runanga o Turanganui a Kiwa says it's likely the courthouse was built on top of a pre-European urupa.
Mr Nepe told Waatea News the skeletons had been laid out in an orderly fashion.
