Waitapu Valley (Maunganui Bluff) New Zealand | astronomical observatory and horizon astronomy

Waitapu Valley (Maunganui Bluff) in New Zealands Northland, North Island appears to be an astronomical observatory and horizon astronomy complex. Martin Doutré has investigated the Waitapu Valley astronomy obervatory complex and has detailed the finds in his book Ancient Celtic New Zealand and on the website celticnz.co.nz.

People may not agree with his theories of the history of pre Maori New Zealand but the fieldwork and evidence he provides for Waitapu Valley being an ancient astronomical observatory is good. Maybe reading the book is not enough evidence for and against but all those who criticise his work will have to visit the Waitapu Valley before they can confirm that Martin Doutré is wrong.

I have had the great fortune to visit New Zealand and a number of the main locations that Martin Doutré covers in his book. I also did read some of the old written literature and accounts of Maori folklore, mythology and history. From the evidence that I read and especially the evidence that I could see when visiting the sites, Martin Doutré appears correct that there was a race of ancient peoples before the Maoris. As for the "Celtic New Zealand" part I can not comment on that as that is not something I studied or investigated.

I have to thank Martin Doutré and his book and website "Ancient Celtic New Zealand" for being the reason I visited Waitapu Valley. Without it I would not have known about horizon astronomy and observed how it works with my own eyes. Years later it meant I have rediscovered the astromical/solar observatories on Malta, one near Dingli Cliffs and the other at Gnejna Bay.

Waitapu Valley astronomy observatory

The Waitapu Valley in the "North of the North" as New Zealanders call the Northland of the North Island is a perfect location for a solar and astronomy observatory complex. With the hills and mountain lines on the horizon enabling a great view and place to carry out and measure horizon astronomy.

The notches and cuts in the land surrounding the Waitapu Valley fit in with a solar observatory as Martin Doutré suggests.

Close by Waitapu Valley and one of the Trig points is the awesome Puketapu hill with hundreds of stones and cairns, sight pits and a fine view of the New Zealand countryside.

Waitapu Valley Stone Circles

There are numerous Megaliths (Standing Stones) and a number of small Stone Circles. One of these that is very small is beside the clifftop in the opposite direction to Maunganui Bluff. Other stone circles can be seen in the farmers fields beside the road leading to the Waitapu Valley.

Waitapu Valley Standing Stones (Menhirs)

All over the Waitapu Valley are Standing Stones (Menhirs) and Cairn markers. The largest concentration of now fallen Standing Stones are at the Maunganui Bluff end of the valley.

If you walk up and down the Waitapu Valley sides at the Maunganui Bluff end you will find at regular intervals fallen Standing Stones (Megaliths). If you have any doubts this is an ancient solar observatory then the constant distance between these Standing Stones will stop them.

Its not just the fact that these Standing Stones are in horizontal and vertial lines along the slope its the shape of some of them. On the walk up to Maunganui Bluff you will see in the bushes beside the track an amazing example of a fallen Standing Stone and its Plinth or base stone.

Puketapu hill - part of Waitapu Valley complex

Puketapu hill is part of Waitapu Valley astronomy complex but also involved in the trigonometry and land surveying markers/system as suggested by celticnz.

In the photo above of Puketapu hill you can see the stone cairns on its top and also highlighted in the background is Maunganui Bluff at the end of Waitapu Valley. There is lots of interesting stuff on top of the hill.

Trekking Maunganui Bluff

Trekking (walking/hiking) Maunganui Bluff is a spectacular walk along high vertical cliffsides. Be warned though it is dangerous as there will be times when you are on a path that is only a foot or so wide and on the edge of the high cliff. As long as you are prepared for the thrill of trekking like this and not in a rush you should be fine. There is a place to park your car at the Waitapu Valley side and the other end of the Maunganui Bluff trek is a small place called Aranga Beach. After the effort of the trek it has a fresh water tap and you can swim in the sea. You will need it!

The owner of the local Backpackers Hostel (can not remember its name but it has a private glow worm stream and a very steep entrance road) says that he does the Maunganui Bluff trek a couple of times a week and its easy. Most of it may be "easy" but some of it is a bit dangerous, especially in the wet. But it is worth the walk if you got someone to pick you up at the end.

Pre Maori evidence?

Kaimanawa Wall, Lake Taupo

The puzzling and mysterious Kaimanawa Wall structure is found near Lake Taupo and easily reached by car. Is it a natural wall or pyramid of perfect blocks? Is it man made and if so by who and when?

The Waipoua Forest Stone City and Tapapakanga Park

The Waipoua Forest Stone City is a very large complex of collapesed stone buildings and walls. You can follow the lines of walls buried beneath ground with the tops just showing. As you explore different areas you will come across large walls and then the collapsed beehive buildings. Some of these have trees growing on top of them.The Waipoua Forest Stone City is a fact, its just how you interpret what you see that people will disagree on.

There is another "Stone City" although more of a Stone Village settlement in the North Island, located at Tapapakanga Park, south of Orere Point. It was explained as a stone field but the lines of the collapsed beehive huts, the man made earth mounds and even a central garden or raised earth village square leave no doubt that this was an ancient stone village. Its location also uses horizon astronomy. There is more on Tapapakanga Park horizon astronomy setting including photographs (scroll down to the "MORE SOLAR OBSERVATORIES" section).

If you ever visit New Zealands North Island then you should visit all these sites as they are all in great natural settings. Tapapakanga Regional Park is also next to the beach and even in bad weather there is a shelter on the beach you can sit in.

What is the problem with a race of pre Maori people?

The older books tell of Maori folklore and history mentioning the white people who lived in the forest and in the mountains. So what is the issue of pre Maori people? Money. The Maori's are or have settled for money payments for losing their land. If it is proved that there were people in the land before them then is it still Maori's land and should they be paid? If all that has happened is the Europeans did what the Maoris did to the previous original peoples of New Zealand.

Whatever your views of the reasons for it and who/what/if compensation should be paid it seems strange to even think that New Zealand was uninhabited before the Maoris arrived. Most of the Earth has been settled. Australia, according to Mainstream dating and Aboriginal mythology has been settled for over 40,000 years. Even the Easter Islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean had an amazing race of peoples. Yet the islands of New Zealand remained undiscovered until 900 years ago?

One of the odd stories that seems to prove that New Zealand was known by the ancient peoples comes from Maori folklore. The Maoris went in search of the Greenstone. If no one had visited or inhabited New Zealand then how did people know that New Zealand greenstone existed and where to find it? If the place had never been visited why would you suddenly go to that one spot?

One of the most extraordinary things is that those people who investigate the possibility of a race of pre Maori people are accused of being racist. How can history be racist? So what if there were people in New Zealand before the Maoris? If its not about money then what is the problem?

If there were no first people before the Maoris arrived 900 years ago then there will be no evidence. The idea will soon die a natural death. The truth has nothing to fear. That is why you should always be suspicous when you are not allowed to question or investigate a particular subject, especially when its history, as how can researching history hurt anyone? The truth is the truth. Even if you ignore it, hide it or say it isn't.