NEW ZEALAND BURIAL GROUND IS MAORI ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE

Two people have been charged in relation to a vineyard built at Wairau Bar, an archaeological site, in Blenheim.

The charges were filed in the Blenheim District Court last week, on 3 June, by Heritage New Zealand following its investigation late last year into whether a vineyard at Wairau Bar modified or destroyed archaeological sites.

Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga chief executive Andrew Coleman said the Wairau Bar was well-known, and is believed to be one of the earliest Māori settlements.

"It's got urupā, it's got burial ground, there are lots of other archaeological features right across the Wairau Bar," Coleman said.