Re: Inhabitants of New Zealand before Maori's?

Bob Keeter (b_keeter@owens.ridgecrest.ca.us)
12 Dec 1996 14:37:37 GMT

Andrew Purcell <apurcell@ozemail.com.au> wrote:
>A friend of mine was talking to a guy the other day who mentioned that
>there was an indigenous people in New Zealand prior to the arrival of
>polynesians.
>
>Does anyone know of this or can point me to somewhere that I might
>establish the validity of this claim?
>
>cheers,
>
>Andrew

Did some quick checking here and can find no reference to any evidence
of human habitation in New Zealand prior to the Maori (abt 3500 yrs BP).
Given the apparently very ancient discoveries in Austrailia, if proven,
there might also be similar remains to be discovered in New Zealand.

OBTW, is there any more word on those discoveries?

Regards
bk