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New Zealand's history may be short by old world standards but New Zealand still has a rich heritage of archaeological sites which illustrate its history. These sites have yet the potential to greatly elucidate aspects of our history that remain little known or controversial.

Aerial views of New Zealand archaeological sites. See more

Recurring themes in New Zealand archaeology have been:

Maori History:

• The cultural origins of the first settlers of New Zealand,
• The date of first settlement,
• Issues of later settlement from Polynesia and its cultural impact,
• Culture change in New Zealand, the local origins and the timing of development of the distinctive Maori culture of late prehistory,
• Environmental impact of Maori occupation of New Zealand, extinctions of giant and other birds, vegetation change,
• Economic change in Maori society, especially the later role of horticulture,
• Warfare in later society, its relation to economics, social structure, competition for status and land,
• Arts, especially those expressed in wood carving, personal amulets and rock drawings,
• Tools and resources used for those tools; stone, and shell,
• Reconciliations of archaeology with traditional histories and early historical records of Maori life.

Historical Archaeology:

• Industries of early European settlers, particularly whaling, and gold mining,
• Military and other sites of the land wars,
• Development of the colonial towns,
• Investigations of shipwrecks,
• Sites of minorities poorly represented in written historical records.

Many New Zealand archaeologists have undertaken research in other parts of the Pacific both while based here and as visiting scholars and students at other institutions. Archaeologists trained in New Zealand are found throughout the world.

The Archaeological Association is an incorporated society with a membership spanning students, amateurs, professionals and institutions involved or interested in archaeology. 

The objectives of the NZAA are to promote and foster research into the archaeology of New Zealand. The Association is active in lobbying Government and Local Government for the protection of New Zealand's cultural heritage. 

NZAA runs a national Site Recording Scheme, which contains the records of over 50,000 archaeological sites. The records are used for the purpose of research and protection of the sites. Anyone may join NZAA. 

By joining you will be making it more possible to preserve our collective past and heritage.

The New Zealand Archaeological Association (Inc.) may be contacted at:

P.O. Box 6337,
Dunedin North,
NEW ZEALAND 9059

Secretary:

NB this is not hot linked. To email write the address into the "to" box on your email program.  

Officers of the Association

Constitution (pdf download 80KB)

Now on Line

The Digital Site Recording Scheme 

ArchSite.org.nz

The New Zealand 
archaeological Wiki.
archaeopedia.com

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