1
EXCAVATIONS ON RUARANGI PA (SITE N20/41),
WHANGAREI, NEW ZEALAND
MoLLv P. "Housman
DENMARK
Abstract. Salvage excavations on Ruarangi Pa in 1965 are described. The pa
was occupied several times and the evidence suggested a change in defence
from scarps with palisades to artificially heightened searps. Two kinds o[ house
floor, associated with hearths and pavings of limestone slabs were found.
but there were no pits in the excavated area.
An excavation of a small ridge peak pa two miles (3.2 km) south of the city
boundary of Whangarei, Northland, was conducted as part of a general investiga-
tion of the Ruarangi Maori Burial Ground in 1965. Because the area has been
reserved for a long time as a iucralrf rapt: (sacred place). it was only at the request
of the Maori Land Court and with the consent of the Maori Trustees of. the
Reserve that these investigations took place. The request was prompted by an
application by the Portland Cement Company for quarrying rights to the limestone
on the entire forty acre (16.18? hectare) Reserve. The investigations were aimed,
therefore at determining and recording the extent of the prehistoric features; and
where feasible salvaging, some information from any major sites threatened with
destruction.
Three investigations were carried out‘. those on the burials and traditions of
the area by R. S. Oppenheim detailed in an accompanying report {this volume};
those on the cave systems by L. O. Kcrmode and rncrnbcrs of the Auckland
Speleological Society described in the preliminary report presented to the Maori
Land Court (Kerrnode 1965), and those on the ridge peak pa with which this
report is concerned, by the author and members of the Whangarei and Auckland
Archaeological Societies. The mph on the Reserve was lifted by the Maori Trustees
for the duration of. the investigation.
The Ruarangi block lies on the foothills of the upper reaches of the Whangarei
Harbour and furnished excellent views over the harbour and the surrounding
alluvial flats. Kermode (1965) provided a useful description of the local geology:
The basement rock in this district is grey_wa_cke. It forms a series of northward tilted
blocks up—faulted_ on the southern side. Within the fault angle valleys lie young marine
sandstones and l1mestones....v\t the pa site the limestone appears to be overlain by a
yfpungerfiveathered sandstone which probably forms most of the scrub-covered hill just to
, t e nort .
The hills of the Reserve are very steep and high. They are partially covered
in thick bush, including puriri (Virex Incens Kirk) groves, with the rest in either
second growth or rough sheep pasture. Ciills and large blocks of limestone stand
as weathered out—crops in which numerous caves and crevices occur. Some of
them have been used as burial places; other overhangs with charcoal, ashes and
bits of shell showing on the surface, have at some time served as shelters and
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Rec. Auckland,’ Inst. Mus. 8: 1-22 December l7th l97l
it
N20 l4-IBack 
