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Story: When was New Zealand first settled?

All images and media

From page 1 - The date debate

Pacific migrations

Pacific migrations

Double-hulled canoe, Tonga, 1790s

Double-hulled canoe, Tonga, 1790s

Types of evidence for dating New Zealand settlement

Types of evidence for dating New Zealand settlement

From page 2 - Genealogical dating

Kupe’s Sails

Percy Smith’s genealogical dating

Percy Smith’s genealogical dating

Carved post, Arataki visitor centre

Carved post, Arataki visitor centre

From page 3 - Radiocarbon dating

Accelerator mass spectrometer, Rafter Radiocarbon Laboratory

Accelerator mass spectrometer, Rafter Radiocarbon Laboratory

Waikato Radiocarbon Dating Laboratory

Waikato Radiocarbon Dating Laboratory

The Taupō and Kaharoa ash layers

The Taupō and Kaharoa ash layers

The stepping-stone islands

The stepping-stone islands

Pou whenua, Raoul Island

Pou whenua, Raoul Island

Wairau Bar, Marlborough

Wairau Bar, Marlborough

From page 4 - Pollen analysis

Analysis of pollen from Travis Swamp, Christchurch

Analysis of pollen from Travis Swamp, Christchurch

A magnified bracken spore

A magnified bracken spore

From page 5 - Rat bones

The Pacific rat

The Pacific rat

Modern Pacific rat bones

Modern Pacific rat bones

Archaeologist Bruce McFadgen

Archaeologist Bruce McFadgen

From page 6 - Rat DNA

Mummified rats, Pompallier House, Russell

Mummified rats, Pompallier House, Russell

Computer model of a voyage

Computer model of a voyage

Gnawed snail shells

Gnawed snail shells

Gnawed seed

From page 7 - Extinction and decline

Moa bones

The adzebill (Aptornis)

The adzebill (Aptornis)

‘The inside of a hippah, in New Zealand’

‘The inside of a hippah, in New Zealand’

How to cite this page:

Geoff Irwin and Carl Walrond, 'All images and media', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/when-was-new-zealand-first-settled/media (accessed 26 September 2023)

Story by Geoff Irwin and Carl Walrond, published 8 Feb 2005, updated 1 May 2016