Cultural Significance

Cultural and Traditional Significance or Value Tumai is of significance to Kati Huirapi ki Puketerangi (a runaka of Kai Tahu) who exercise manawhenua of the area south of the Shag (Waihemo) River. It is one of many archaeological sites that reflect the ancestral Maori occupation of this landscape.

Historic Significance

Historical Significance or Value This place was assessed for its archaeological, cultural and traditional significance or value

Physical Significance

Archaeological Significance or Value Archaeological investigation of Tumai has assisted in our understanding of the nature of early Maori settlement in southern New Zealand, particularly within the east Otago region. It reflects the mobility of early Maori between specialised sites like Tumai, where fishing played a dominant role, to more permanent villages such as the nearby site of Shag River Mouth.

Detail Of Assessed Criteria

This place was assigned a Category II status having regard to the following criteria: a, c, d, i, k (a) The extent to which the place reflects important or representative aspects of New Zealand history: Tumai reflects an important period in New Zealand history - the early Maori settlement of southern New Zealand and the discovery and utilisation of New Zealand's resources, such as moa, seal and a range of stone sources for tool production. (c) The potential of the place to provide knowledge of New Zealand history: Archaeological investigation of Tumai has contributed to our knowledge of early Maori occupation in southern New Zealand, particularly in relation to settlement patterns. Additional research such as the extraction of new samples for radiocarbon dating may further assist in our understanding of this site, and the nature of early Maori settlement within the east Otago region. (d) The importance of the place to tangata whenua: Tumai is of cultural, traditional and spiritual significance to Kai Tahu, in particular Kati Huirapa ki Puketeraki, as it provides a tangible link between the past and present. Tumai [ditto] is just one of many recorded archaeological sites in east Otago that demonstrates the importance of this landscape to early Maori. (i) The importance of the identifying historic places known to date from early periods of New Zealand settlement: Archaeological evidence such as the presence of moa bone indicates that Tumai was occupied during the Archaic phase of New Zealand's initial settlement, but additional radiocarbon dating is required to more accurately ascertain the approximate date of the site. (k) The extent to which the place forms part of a wider historical and cultural complex or historical and cultural landscape: Tumai is one of ten archaeological sites recorded in the immediate vicinity of the Pleasant River estuary, and forms part of a much wider archaeological and cultural landscape reflecting early Maori settlement in east Otago. This landscape incorporates sites such as Pleasant River Mouth on the north side of the estuary, Shag River Mouth and the Waitaki River Mouth to the north, and Warrington and Papatowai to the south. In summary Tumai has been assigned Category II status on the basis of its archaeological, cultural and traditional significance. Tumai has significance as part of the archaeological landscape of early Maori occupation in southern New Zealand, and is of cultural and traditional value to Kati Huirapa ki Puketeraki.

Allingham, 1977

Brian Allingham, 'Archaeological Investigations Exercised at the Mouth of the Pleasant River, North Otago from 20/11/76 to 28/12/76'. Preliminary Report to the NZ Historic Places Trust, 1977.

Smith, 1985

Alan Smith, 'Sea Mammal Hunting and Prehistoric Subsistence in New Zealand', Unpublished PhD Thesis, Anthropology, University of Otago, 1985.