The Porirua-based tribe Ngāti Toa has been called in to examine the discovery of a midden during earthworks for an office site for the Transmission Gully roading project north of Wellington.
Transmission Gully Project team members Photo: SUPPLIED
A 27-kilometre four-lane highway is being built that will connect with the Kāpiti Expressway to the north.
The iwi are the Mana Whenua (tribal land authority) for that area: the Transmission Gully Project team therefore have an obligation to consult with them should they find any cultural remnants buried in the ground.
Once it is completed in 2020, four lanes will run from the Terrace Tunnel in downtown Wellington to north of Ōtaki.