A ‘Tohu’ from the Past: Ancient Waka Discovery Redefines Pacific History
By Lions Roar News Science & Culture Desk
RĒKOHU / CHATHAM ISLANDS (December 27, 2025) – In what is being hailed as the most significant archaeological find in New Zealand’s history, an ancient ocean-voyaging waka discovered on a remote beach in the Chatham Islands has begun to reveal its secrets. Newly released radiocarbon dating confirms the vessel arrived on the islands between 1440 and 1470 AD, positioning it at the very peak of the great Pacific voyaging era.
Discovered by 23-year-old Nikau Dix in August 2024, the site has already yielded nearly 700 extraordinary artefacts, though experts warn that 90% of the vessel remains buried and at risk from the sea.
💎 A Treasure Trove Under the Dunes
Archaeologist Justin Maxwell, who led a week-long partial excavation, described the find as “exciting and terrifying.” Unlike most waka discoveries that involve small fragments, this site has “ticked every box” on an archaeologist’s wish list.
Key Artefacts Recovered:
- The Figurehead: A carved headpiece that first alerted Nikau Dix to the find.
- Voyaging Gear: Exceptionally preserved cordage (rope), twine, parts of a sail, and intricate matting.
- Ornate Decorations: Wooden planks featuring obsidian inlays, shell decorations, and a unique checkered carving pattern.
- Scientific First: The discovery of the first bottle gourd (hue/calabash) ever found in a Chatham Islands archaeological site, dating to approximately 1400 AD.
⏳ Frozen in Time: 1440 AD
Interim radiocarbon reports released in late 2025 have narrowed the waka’s arrival to a 30-year window in the mid-15th century. Because the team tested “short-lived” materials like twine and gourds rather than ancient timber, the dates are considered highly accurate.
“This places it in a period when people were moving freely throughout the Pacific,” says Maxwell. “It dates to the heyday of Pacific voyaging.”
Lead conservator Sara Gainsford is currently training local volunteers to maintain the artefacts, which are being stored in water-filled tanks to prevent the ancient wood from crumbling upon contact with the air.
⚖️ The Battle Over “Rangihoua”
The discovery has reignited deep cultural and legal discussions regarding its origin and ownership.
- Moriori Claim: Both the Moriori Imi Settlement Trust and the Hokotehi Moriori Trust believe the vessel is the Rangihoua—a legendary sea-going waka from Moriori oral history that was said to have been wrecked on the northern coast centuries ago.
- Ngāti Mutunga Interest: The island’s iwi, Ngāti Mutunga o Wharekauri, has registered an interest, seeking to understand how the waka fits into their own migratory narratives.
- Bureaucratic Tension: While the Crown acts as temporary custodian, local leaders like barrister Maui Solomon are frustrated by “red tape” preventing the full excavation of the remaining 90% of the ship.
“We are only one major storm event away from losing it,” Solomon warned, urging the Ministry for Culture and Heritage to move faster.
