Near Lake Taupo in New Zealand is an enigmatic wall called the Kaimanawa wall. It faces north and consists of smooth, megalithic stone blocks with symmetrical corners. The blocks form perfectly together and are completely flat at the end. They also go upwards and backwards in blocks and levels. Many hypotheses flourish concerning the origins of its stone blocks, in particular, whether the structure is man-made or a unique natural formation.
The controversial wall became a topic for debate in the early 1990s with Barry Brailsford’s publication of an article in the New Zealand Listener called “Megalith Mystery: Are giant stones in the Kaimanawa Forest Park evidence of an ancient New Zealand culture?". According to the article, the stone wall is at least 2000 years old and was created by the first settlers of New Zealand, the Waitaha, who were subsequently nearly exterminated by the Maoris, who arrived only 800 years ago. (Or perhaps by people who were here before the Waitaha). Furthermore, Brailsford maintains that the wall could link New Zealand with Egypt, South America, and other ancient civilisations. He lists twelve pieces of evidence for its construction, for example, the fact that the visible stones in the front are a uniform 1.9 metres wide by 1.6 metres tall, and one metre wide (deep).
However, politically, the view that civilizations existed in New Zealand before the Maori culture is not very popular with the local Maori people, the Department of Conservation archaeologists and geologists and to just about every political party in New Zealand, and the media attention following the publication of the article led to a complete ban on the area.