Arrival of Rats in New Zealand
R.N. Holdaway of Palaecol Research, New Zealand in the Journal Nature, Vol. 384, 21st November 1996, reports of radiocarbon ages of up to about 2,000 years before present, on bone gelatin from Pacific Rats from both mains islands of New Zealand:
“…This implies an early transient human contact with New Zealand….Humans have transported the Pacific rat throughout the central and South Pacific from its presumed area of origin in Southeast Asia….The data suggest that the Pacific rat was established on both main islands of New Zealand nearly 2,000 years ago. The rat is unlikely to have arrived without human assistance…”
Dr Rau Kirikiri, a leading Maori academic, said this could lead Maoris to question their own history
The Southeast Asian rat was brought, via human expedition, to New Zealand nearly 2,000 years ago during the Han Dynasty.
Kiore is the Maori name for this Asia/Pacific species of rat (rattus exulans). It is the world’s third most widely distributed rat today found throughout the Asia/ Pacific area. The Kiore are poor swimmers reinforcing their introduction to New Zealand via human contact, be it accidental or deliberate.
