Up to 1,200 people were killed here, and the land is sacred to Ngāi Tahu so "is deemed to be vested in Te Runanga o Ngāi Tahu" as part of the Ngāi Tahu Waitangi claims settlement in 1998.
The site has seen up to 1,200 deaths and is considered sacred by Ngāi Tahu, leading to its designation as vested in Te Runanga o Ngāi Tahu under the Ngāi Tahu Waitangi claims settlement of 1998.