DESIGN, PURPOSE, PRESERVATION, AND RECOGNITION OF MAORI FISH TRAPS: A CASE STUDY FROM OTAMAHUA / QUAIL ISLAND, BANKS PENINSULA, NEW ZEALAND

Underwater cultural heritage sites are highly important pieces of history that give people an appreciation of the past and provide a window into the lives of those that came before us. A distinct indigenous underwater cultural heritage site are fish traps and weirs, types of stone-walled structures built in the intertidal zone of a shoreline. In many places around the world stone-walled fish traps were an important way for communities to catch fish and are now culturally important sites. Due to natural erosion, sedimentation and human disturbance, these features can be damaged or disappear. The study focuses on the design and preservation of two Māori stone fish traps of Ōtamahua / Quail Island, Banks Peninsula, New Zealand. These two features are semicircular in shape, and built from locally sourced stone. These fish traps are similar in design to those in the North Island of New Zealand, Polynesia, and around the world, enabling a greater understanding by comparing and contrasting their use and construction to other cultures who fished in a similar way. Presently the Ōtamahua / Quail Island fish traps are passively protected under current legislation, though this is the most cost effective option, it is currently not enough to slow degradation. Community revival, internationally shown as an effective method, is not viable as these are registered archaeological sites under protection. Public awareness of a site is a more effective means of preservation than concealment or inaction. With knowledge, visitors will recognize and understand the history of fish traps in the area, resulting in a reduction to potential damage being caused to the traps. It has been shown that visitors who understand the significance of various sites and areas are more likely to keep their distance and respect vulnerable areas. It is therefore suggested that the Ōtamahua / Quail Island traps are best preserved by educating visitors on the existence and importance of these features.