The Star: June 14, 2018

The Star Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi
Thursday June 14 2018 15
News
• By Julia Evans
AN archaeological dig
in search of the ancient
Philistines is taking local
body politician John
Stringer to the biblical
home of Goliath.
The Otago University
doctoral student and Papanui-Innes
Community
Board member will spend
three weeks in Israel’s Tell
es-Safi from June 24.
He’ll be working on site
of the Bar-Ilan University
institute of archaeology
dig, one of the world’s largest
sites, as part of his PhD
studies.
“I’ve always been
interested in the classical
world. I did my masters at
Victoria University in the
ancient Middle East,” Mr
Stringer said.
Tell es-Safi is widely
accepted as the location
of Gath, the main city of
• By Sarla Donovan
THE SITE of a bloody
massacre on Banks
Peninsula is a step closer to
achieving National Reserve
status.
Takapuneke sits
between Akaroa
and the settlement
of Onuku.
In 1830 Ngati Toa
chief Te Rauparaha
and a war party of
100 went ashore
from the brig
Elizabeth – anchored
on pretext of
trading flax – and sacked
Takapuneke, killing many
of the inhabitants and capturing
Ngai Tahu leader Te
Maiharanui.
The act was considered
revenge for the killing of
Ngati Toa chief Te Pehi
John Stringer ​
the now vanished ancient
Philistines – a race known
for their barbarism, destruction
and conflict with
the Israelites.
Mr Stringer will be
working under Philistine
expert Professor Aren
Maeir, who recently
uncovered what could be
Goliath’s tomb.
“It’s an exciting site and
Kupe at Kaiapoi two years
earlier.
In 2002 the reserve was
registered with the New
Zealand Historic Places
Trust as wahi tapu (a place
of outstanding historic or
cultural heritage
value) and in
2006 the Banks
Peninsula District
Council resolved
to seek National
Reserve status,
denoting the same
standing as the
Waitangi Treaty
Grounds.
But a reserve management
plan has to be in
place before an application
can be made.
Under the new plan there
will be three parks – Park
of Silence, Park of Reflection
and Park of Healing.
RUIN: John
Stringer is
going to an
archaeological
dig at the site
of the ancient
Philistine city
of Gath.
Archaeological dig
lures city politician
an exciting opportunity,”
he said. “I’ve been told its
the year to be going.”
The gate of Gath, which
is mentioned in the biblical
story of David’s escape
from King Saul to King
Achish, was also discovered
at the site in 2015 by
Bar-Ilan University archaeologists.
Mr Stringer said his goal
is to find some connection
between the Philistines
and ancient Greeks. “It’s
really about trying to pin
down who the Philistines
were. . . Philistine research
is quite rare.”
“I’ve got all the gear
ready to go. The Indiana
Jones hat and all,” he said.
But it will be another
four years until he’s Dr
Stringer. He plans to head
to the Tell es-Safi dig site
three times over the next
three years.
Te Rauparaha site
may get new status
Te Rauparaha
All animals are banned,
apart from sheep for grazing.
Camping, food and bicycles
are also prohibited.
Public access will be
restricted to the Park of
Silence unless granted
permission by Onuku
Runanga and it will be
enclosed in permeable
fencing enabling views into
the area.
A network of paths will
be constructed in the other
two parks along with seats
and interpretive panels and
signage, while the Immigration
Barracks building
will be renovated and used
for educational purposes.
The reserve will have two
entrances – one at Beach
Rd and one at Onuku Rd
where a car park is to be
built on the former city
council landfill site.
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