Two construction companies charged with damaging a Maori moa-hunting site in Christchurch have been convicted and discharged, and ordered to pay tens of thousands of dollars.
A moa skeleton at the Whanganui Regional Museum (file photo) Photo: RNZ
Arrow International and Mike Greer Homes were charged late last year with altering and disturbing the historical site, in Redcliffs, in mid-2013.
In the Christchurch District Court this afternoon, Judge Jane Farish ordered Mike Greer Homes to pay $10,000 to Heritage New Zealand and put $12,500 dollars towards an Otago University archaeological scholarship.
She ordered Arrow International to pay $61,00, which includes a $12,500 contribution to Otago University.
Heritage New Zealand senior archaeologist Pam Bain said it reinforced an important message.
"Archaelogoical sites are protected under the law and we encourage people to speak to Heritage New Zealand really early on," she said.
"In the process when they're developing their ideas, when they're developing their project - so we can work with them to see if we can achieve things that will protect these places but still manage to continue to get work that's done."
Ms Bain said where all parties worked together, they could always find a good outcome.
Listen to coverage of the case