A number of archealogocial surveys since the mid-1970s have revealed some fascinating sites in the area.
In 2004, archeaologist and heritage consultant, Dianne Harlow surveyed the coastal flats and hillsides of the Ocean Beach wilderness area. The most significant sites found were the remains of a Maori pa site at the Northern end of Ocean Beach. Here the remains of nine pits and two terraces are all clearly visible, likely a defended store for food resources.
There are several types of sites in the area. Middens are early rubbish pits and contain fragments of tuatua shells. Paleofaunal sites contain animal and bird bones, moa eggshell, stone tools and crushed shells. Artefacts found include fishing sinkers, adzes, spear points and needles. These are believed to be from the Archaic period, possibly dating about 1500AD.
The tribe who occupied the Hawke's Bay area were the Ngati Kahungunu and the old walking track down the escarpment can be clearly seen during the dune system traverse.
The Hook of Maui
The shape of the Hawke’s Bay coastline resembles a fishhook with Cape Kidnappers marking the southern boundary. According to Maori legend the hook - or matau - once belonged to Maui, the legendary seafarer who used it to haul Te Ika a Maui, ‘The Fish of Maui’, from the inky blue depths of the adjacent Pacific Ocean. Matau-a-Maui - Hawke’s Bay, a gift from the sea.