Part of the cache of artefacts found at Puketoi Station
Pre-European Maori History in the Area
While there is no evidence of permanent pre-European settlement in the Ophir area, according to a number of sources, early Maori travelled extensively through Central Otago. The Mata Au (now the Clutha River) was named after their landing point at the mouth of this river. Atholl Anderson and others have written extensively on how early Maori utilised the major valley systems that led into the interior now known as Central Otago as natural pathways enabling exploration and discovery. They travelled through this district on their way to the pounamu rivers of the west coast; to hunt moa and other game; to fish and to gather food which was often transported, using the Mata Au, back to coastal settlements. They gathered flint for flake tools, and particular plants for medicinal purposes. Hunting parties built rafts and. There is evidence of specific hunting expeditions for weka during the winter, when they were fattest.
While there is no evidence of permanent Maori settlement around Ophir, there are considerable archaeological findings that indicate that they established semi-permanent seasonal campsites (kaika nohoaka), and regarded Central Otago as a place to regenerate. The name ‘Manuherekia’ implies that birds caught there were tied together, and that the valley was a food-gathering place. There are two stories attached to the name ‘Omakau’ – the place belonging to husband, wife and baby (makau) and the other is that Omakau was named after the Ngati Mamoe chief, Makau.
Site surveys have recorded a number of rock shelters in the interior of Otago, as well as some evidence of round houses made of tussock or scrub that evidence transient Maori life in our neighbourhood. Moira White and colleagues have described the large cache of textile artefacts that was discovered in a kete in a small cave formed by an overhanging rock on Puketoi Station, a few kilometres from Ophir. The contents have been dated to the eighteenth century and include among other things, two pairs of men’s sandals. Sandals made from cabbage tree and flax were very common in the South Island. On long and rough journeys, multiple pairs of sandals were taken, and they were also often made by all members of the party while travelling.
While there is no evidence of permanent Maori settlement around Ophir, there are considerable archaeological findings that indicate that they established semi-permanent seasonal campsites
Later in the nineteenth century, after initial European exploration, Māori began to live a less traditional lifestyle in Central Otago, as workers on European sheep stations, for example, or as Lloyd Carpenter has written about, as gold miners. When the gold rush of Central Otago occurred, Mäori participated in and even started rushes to some rich ground. Local knowledge also helped them to avoid the dangers of rivers and diet-induced scurvy. They also collectively made sure they kept their claims. As Carpenter states “Mäori were knowledgeable, diligent, worked cooperatively and, most importantly for gold mining, were lucky”