Cow bones stop work at building site

Bones found at the Mount Maunganui Lifeguard Service’s construction site turned out to be bovine in nature. Photos: Jamie Troughton/Dscribe Media.

Bones found yesterday at the Mount Maunganui Lifeguard Service's construction site proved to be a false alarm - but also a timely reminder of the area's cultural heritage.

Contractors stopped work immediately after a deluge of rain uncovered the bones yesterday afternoon, behind the area where the club's new $3 million community facility is being built.

The project's cultural advisor visited the site this morning and confirmed the bones were bovine, clearing building work to carry on and leaving club chairman Paul Manning relieved but philosophical.

'It's hugely important we take any find like this seriously, not only because of our established protocols but also because of the club's role as one of the kaitiaki (guardians) of this area,” says Paul. 'We know how important Mauao is to the three local iwi and this building project has been a great chance for our members to learn a little more about the history of this site and build stronger relationships with the original guardians here.”

Human remains (kōiwi tangata) are often uncovered by natural erosion in coastal areas and in excavation work. This week, the New Zealand Transport Agency reported a find of bones from at least six kōiwi - possibly between 200 to 400 years old - on a stretch of the Waikato Expressway being built around Hamilton.

Mauao is a sacred maunga for Tauranga's three iwi - Ngati Ranginui, Ngai Te Rangi, and Ngati Pukenga - and pa sites and middens on the flanks of the mountain date back nearly 1000 years.

By contrast, the Mount Lifeguard Service has only been on the site at the base of Mauao for the past 90 years, although the new community-driven facility being built is aimed at increasing that longevity significantly.

The 38-year-old former building was demolished last month because of weather-tightness issues and increasing maintenance costs, with the construction phase of the new build now gathering steam. Footings are now in place for three-story concrete tilt slabs to go in place early next week, with a clear patch of weather and lighter winds forecast.

Paul is confident the basement of the building will be ready at the end of this year, ready for response and rescue services during the next season, with the rest of the structure - including community function and emergency service operations rooms - ready by early next year.

'We still need at least $700,000 to complete that second phase and we're looking for community support to help with that but it was vital we pushed ahead with the project to make sure we were ready for the busy part of the next lifeguarding season.”

To get over the line, the club has just employed Dominique Paduch, to lead the community fundraising efforts.

The club is also backing a new initiative, announced yesterday, to help reduce the drowning toll in Bay of Plenty, with the Maori drowning rate in Bay of Plenty higher than the national average between 2007 and 2016.

The Mount Lifeguard Service has a number of iwi represented in their membership and is looking to develop a long-term plan to increase water skills in local iwi.

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3 comments

1,000 years

Posted on 24-05-2018 15:48 | By Capt_Kaveman

To see proof Polynesians were here much before 1300 but there is evident that others were here some what long before that


What a fuss

Posted on 24-05-2018 16:07 | By maildrop

They'll soon be unearthing chicken bones from KFC, and calling in the iwi to confirm. Finger lickin' good.


Need $700,000?

Posted on 25-05-2018 10:04 | By Crash test dummies

WOW building without the money, that is going to be interesting... so then the begging will start and desperation will rule as the costs rack up and a shell is created. WOW three story concrete mansion for a couple a life guards to hang out in, Sounds more like party central than something modest and effective to teh needed purpose!


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