NZHPT Information release
13 December 2011

The Hutt City Council’s (HCC) decision to remove items from its District Plan heritage list is relinquishing its responsibility under the Resource Management Act, says the New Zealand Historic Places Trust (NZHPT).

The HCC District Plan Sub-committee last night voted to remove 56 non-NZHPT registered heritage buildings and structures from its list.  The rules affording protection to historic heritage that remains in the District Plan are proposed to be weakened, the NZHPT says, including reducing the NZHPT’s involvement as an affected party.  The community relies for heritage protection on the rules in councils District Plans.

“The NZHPT is extremely disappointed at this decision that has been carried out without engaging the views of the wider Hutt City community,” says NZHPT Central Region Manager, Ann Neill.

“Out of the affected property owners that were contacted by council, only about half replied.  And of those, more than 40 percent were in favour of listing their properties.  It’s hard to see how a decision to satisfy the concerns of owners about a new list justifies removing places that have already been through a proper process.

“This is a backward step for heritage.  It takes it back to pre-2004 days when the RMA legislation was strengthened to require councils to have a stronger regard for heritage protection.  This is an issue for the whole Hutt City community to have a say in.”

Mrs Neill, who presented to the HCC hearing last night, says owners were concerned at what impact a District Plan listing had on their property rights and values.

“The NZHPT recognises owner concerns about regulation and experiences similar questions when we propose to register a historic site or property.  It is important to engage early with owners, to be transparent about the process and explain just what such listings mean and how they can, in fact, be extremely beneficial.

“You only need to look at the desirability of Patrick Street, for example, which has ten properties on the District Plan, as an example where a listing has increased their value.”

Mrs Neill says the HCC has yet to put forward any conclusive evidence that supports their decision to change the District Plan heritage list and rules. 

“On the one hand the council is relinquishing its responsibility to protect its heritage and putting the onus on the NZHPT – a national body – to do their job for them.  But on the other hand it is diluting our role as an affected party.  Unfortunately this will only place heritage at further risk.”

For more information:

Ann Neill
General Manager, Central Region
New Zealand Historic Places Trust
tel: 04 494 8321 or  027 498 4604
email: aneill@historic.org.nz

Background Notes

Registering historic places

Registration is the inclusion on the NZHPT Register of a place or area that is considered part of New Zealand's historical andcultural heritage. Places may be included on the Register if they possess aesthetic, archaeological, architectural, cultural, historic, scientific, social, spiritual, technological or traditional values. Under the Historic Places Act 1993, places registeredmay be accorded a ranking of Category I or II status. The NZHPT also registers wahi tapu and wahi tapu areas.

Registration does not provide any direct protection to historic places or wahi tapu. Protection comes about when local authorities decide to protect their local historic places by scheduling them in their district plans under the Resource Management Act 1991. In this case a resource consent is often required from the Council concerned to modify any scheduled place. About 90 percent of places on the Register are also scheduled in District Plans.

More than 5,600 sites are included on the Register which can be searched online at www.historic.org.nz

More about the NZHPT

NZHPT is a Crown Entity and receives most of its funding from Government. It also has a large public membership. We aim to ensure New Zealand's historic heritage is identified and protected in order to provide present and future generations of New Zealanders with a sense of place and belonging.

We work in co-operation with owners of historic places, developers, local authorities, communities, iwi, hapu and government agencies.

Our responsibilities under the Historic Places Act 1993 include:

• Regulating the modification of archaeological sites
• Maintaining the national Register of historic places and wahi tapu
• Working closely with local authorities and property owners to explore options for sympathetic adaptation of historic places and reusing them in place of demolition
• Providing specialist advice on the conservation of Maori heritage
• Managing a portfolio of 48 nationally significant heritage properties
• Advocating for the protection of significant heritage places through submissions on planning documents and resource consents
• Running heritage education, training and promotion programmes
• Administering the National Heritage Preservation Incentive Fund, and
• Assessing and making recommendations for conservation of historic heritage prior to disposal of Crown land.