Petroglyphs at Tongaporutu

These petroglyphs (rock carvings) once decorated the wall of a cave just south of the Tongaporutu River mouth. This photograph, taken on 21 August 2005, shows markings which resemble human footprints. Curiously, some of the feet appear to have four toes and some appear to have six. Though it is not known who carved the petroglyphs, Ngāti Toa chief Te Rauparaha who travelled along this piece of coast, was reputed to possess six toes and the beach was a major north Taranaki thoroughfare.