Archaeology of the Kapiti Coast

Between 2013 and 2017 the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) constructed an 18 km expressway along the Kapiti Coast, north of Wellington, called the MacKays to Peka Peka Expressway. The project is abbreviated to M2PP. A large archaeological programme was undertaken during the construction earthworks. 233 new archaeological sites were recorded during the M2PP archaeological programme. The majority of these sites were shell middens. No evidence of gardening was revealed. The data showed that the physical environment was the primary factor in determining both the nature of archaeological sites present and their location. The physical environment of the Kapiti Coast underpinned the subsistence economy – the environment determined the resources and opportunities available to the people.