The Wairau Bar

Anyone looking at the Wairau bar today may see a barren land where nothing really catches the eye(above), however, the Wairau bar archaeological site may be one of the most significant finds in the 20th century. The Bar not only showcases how Maori culture has evolved but also how early European immigrants and ‘modern’ New Zealanders express their identities. The Story of the Wairau Bar is very much a story of Migration.

The Wairua Bar is located in Marlborough and is very significant to New Zealand's history and culture. Most notable for its rich heritage as it is the earliest known place of human activity in New Zealand and may very well be one of the first, if not the first places of human occupation in New Zealand. It is thought that approximately 700-800 years ago migrants of Polynesia arrived here in their waka. At this time the Wairau bar was flourishing and had an abundance of food, particularly, Moa. Which in turn the culture of the Moa Hunter arose in the Wairau Bar, these Moa Hunters were later joined by fleets of Maori occupying the area. After the arrival of the first Europeans, whalers and sealers occupied the area and later on the Wairau Bar was used as a trade route for many ships. Nowadays, the Bar is most commonly used as a fishing and surf spot for many locals in the area. 

In 1939 a schoolboy, Jim Eyles, aged 13 uncovered the ancient remains of human activity, a burial site that contained perforated moa eggs and tools and ornaments believed to be from East Polynesia. When ethnologist Roger Duff of the Canterbury Museum to a team to excavate the Bar from 1939 to 1964 and it revealed itself to be one of the most significant archaeological sites of the twentieth century. The site can tell us a story of how the early inhabitants of this country expressed their identity and how they went about their lives.

The archaeological site unearthed many remains of Moa and it quickly became clear that these early Maori people were Moa Hunters. Roger Duff published his findings in his book The Moa Hunter Period of Maori Culture and showed that the giant flightless bird was one of their primary sources of food. Duff also showcased their elaborate tool use, especially with adzes. This Moa Hunter culture or later known as the archaic phase was the first stage of Maori culture in New Zealand. Duff's findings showcased large quantities of bones, some manufactured into tools, ornaments, necklaces, cloak pins, needles with case, tattooing chisels, and stone fish-hook shanks. There were also cooking ovens, dwellings and a lot of evidence indicating that there was a large village on the Wairau Bar. The findings show that these people of this early Polynesian settlement were explorers, hunters, survivors but it is also evident through ornaments that they brought with them East Polynesian culture and traditions which have had a huge impact on New Zealand culture. 

As well as being a 13th-century Polynesian settlement, the Wairau Bar was also later home for many fleets of Maori arriving from the North Island. Like the Polynesian history, the Maori history in the area is one of migration. Many Maori migrated to the Wairau and established themselves around Marlborough but especially around the wetlands of the Wairau. Ngāti Māmoe and Ngāi Tahu also followed this route and settled further South. The Maori followed this trend of expressing their identity, they were explorers and survivors who migrated and set up elaborate civilisations all around New Zealand and at the Wairau Bar.

European arrival led to the colonisation of New Zealand and the Wairau Bar.  The Wairau Bar was settled by Europeans in 1840 and this era of the Wairau Bar showcases a completely new way New Zealanders have expressed their identity, through trading. From 1847 to 1960 the Wairau Bar was used as a port for trading and the Wairau quickly became the heart of Marlborough. The main produce being traded were agricultural products like wool. 

This era showcases our culture and identity being impacted by imperialism. The relationship between ‘home’ (Britain) and New Zealand’s identity was contained within an imperial identity. During this time many New Zealanders seemed to be fixated on being like Britain, this was the way they expressed their identity, reporting back to the ‘homeland’ of Britain. The Pakeha culture has been caught up in the colinisation of NZ and the Wairau Bar tells us the story of this cultural era. The way New Zealanders had tried to bring the old to the new. 

With European arrival also came encounters with the local Maori. The most significant encounter around the area of the Wairau Bar was the Wairau Affray. Where in 1843, 22 Europeans and 4 Maori were killed when New Zealand company settlers fought with Ngāti Toa over the purchase of land in the Wairau Valley. These encounters also show us how our identities and cultures have merged, they generate mutual adjustment and learning, as well as conflict. This particular encounter of the Wairau affray also showcases the decline of cultural exchange over the 19th century and the shift from contact and settlement, to empire and imperialism. However, this was one of the many ways New Zealanders have expressed their identities in the past.

A more recent way the Wairau bar showcases how New Zealanders express their identities is through surfing and fishing. The Wairau bar or more commonly known in the surf community as ‘The Cut’ is a popular surf spot amongst many locals. The surf spot, although not the best in the world, feels special because of its rich heritage and the stories that come with it. Surfing actually has a significant history in New Zealand, the first national championships were held in 1963 New Zealand even held the first event of the World surf tour which is still the biggest surf tournament in the world to date. Surfing speaks to the well known ‘modern’ New Zealand identity of being friendly, outgoing and welcoming. The surf community, not just in New Zealand but the world generally holds these attributes. This stage of history at the Wairau bar showcases us adopting our own identity, through the hundreds of years of history the vast diversity of cultures have integrated into a culture that isn’t far off the surfing culture. We welcome newcomers, the majority of New Zealanders are friendly, outgoing and, have a diverse range of cultures and identity’s all mixed together.  

The story of the Wairau bar is one of diversity, migration, community and it holds a rich history. The Bar highlights how New Zealanders have expressed their identity throughout our history, from early Moa Hunters to a group of buddies surfing the rocky shore. The Wairau Bar can in a way, confirm traditional depictions of ‘Kiwi Culture’. It speaks to the diversity of our nation and also highlights how we have all migrated to this country. Throughout the trading period of the Wairau Bar, it showcases our relationship with ‘home’ (Britain) but also through the surfing community we see the outgoing and friendly New Zealand identity come out. The Wairau Bars showcase the many ways New Zealanders have expressed their identity and will continue to do so.

Bibliography 

1. Andrews, Jack. 2019. "Marlborough River Transport Of Bygone Days And Some Of The Colourful Operators | NZETC". Nzetc.Victoria.Ac.Nz. http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-NHSJ05_03-t1-body1-d3.html.

2.  Austin, Steven. 2019. "The Wairau Bar". Theprow.Org.Nz. http://www.theprow.org.nz/yourstory/wairau-bar/#.XJqNdJNuZQI. 

3.  Duff, Roger. 1977. The Moa-Hunter Period Of Māori Culture. Wellington: Govt. Printer.

4. 'The Moa Hunters', from An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand, edited by A. H. McLintock, originally published in 1966. Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand URL: http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/1966/maori-material-culture 

5. "Wairau Bar". 2019. Canterbury Museum. https://www.canterburymuseum.com/collections/collection-highlights/lightbox/58.