Archaeological Authorities Key to Unravelling the Past
New Zealand Historic Places Trust Information Release
1 July 2008
The New Zealand Historic Places Trust (NZHPT) says recent publicity about
archaeological finds in and around Dunedin city highlights the importance
of the Trust's work and in particular, the value of its archaeological
authority process. Owen Graham NZHPT Otago/Southland Area Manager said
that "the discovery at the Dunedin City Council's Wall Street development
site this week was a very important find and an extremely good example
of the reasons why the Trust's archaeological authority process is in
place".
Mr Graham said "The NZ Historic Places Trust under the Historic
Places Act 1993 (HPA) has responsibility nationally to promote the identification,
protection, preservation and conservation of the historical and cultural
heritage of New Zealand, with statutory responsibility to administer the
archaeological authority process under Part 1 Sections 9 -20 of the Act.
The HPA defines an archaeological site as '…any place in New Zealand
that was associated with human activity that occurred before 1900'"
"Sound practice is to seek archaeological advice during the early
planning and design stages if there is a potential for archaeological
values to be impacted upon by development works. Over 300 archaeological
authorities are processed by the NZHPT nationally each year. In Dunedin
significant archaeological evidence of Dunedin's early history has been
uncovered at St Clair and the DCC Wall Street development site this year.
In each case, the NZHPT archaeological authority process has been effective
in ensuring that the historic and archaeological information and artefacts
were not 'lost' to us all" Mr Graham said.
Trust Regional Archaeologist, Dr Matthew Schmidt said recent archaeological
investigations in Dunedin highlight just how important the archaeological
authority process is nationally. "At St Clair esplanade, a site was
discovered accidentally by a passer-by. When it was investigated by a
team of archaeologists, it was found to be a 14th or 15th century moa
hunter site. The archaeological process worked really well there with
the owner/developer very supportive throughout".
Dr Schmidt also said "in the most recent find at the DCC Wall Street
development, the site archaeologist Peter Petchey has uncovered what is
thought to be a causeway across a stream made from local timber, possibly
dating from the 1840s. The site today is in the central retail area of
Dunedin, but in the late 1840s would have been very boggy and muddy. Having
the Archaeological Authority and an archaeologist on site is an extremely
good example of the reasons why the archaeological authority process is
in place. It is the archaeological authority process administered by the
NZHPT which ensures that opportunities like this to unlock pieces of our
past are not lost. This discovery and others nearby are starting to allow
archaeologists to piece together important stories about the earliest
days of Dunedin settlement", Dr Schmidt said.
Information on the NZHPT archaeological authority process is available
on the Trust website www.historic.org.nz. The NZHPT has 11 archaeologists
working across New Zealand.
It is unlawful for any person to destroy, damage or modify the whole or
any part of an archaeological site without the prior authority of the
New Zealand Historic Places Trust. This is the case regardless of whether
the land on which the site is located is designated, the activity is permitted
under the District or Regional Plan or a resource or building consent
has been granted. The requirement for an archaeological authority applies
equally to public land as it does to privately owned land.
For more information:
Owen Graham
Area Manager - Otago/Southland
Ph 03 477 9856 or 027 431 6701
Email: ograham@historic.org.nz
Dr Matthew Schmidt
Regional Archaeologist
Ph 03 477 9850 or l 027 240 8715
Email: mschmidt@historic.org.nz
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