The NZHPT employs specialist Pouarahi (Maori Heritage Advisers) and other regional staff based in its offices in Kerikeri, Auckland, Tauranga, and Wellington. The pouarahi form part of a national team led by the Kaihautu Maori and supported by a senior Maori policy analyst in the NZHPT's national office.

Ko tenei te ropu hei tautoko i nga iwi, hapu, whanau hoki. He ropu awhina hei hapai i te kaupapa ‘Tiaki Taonga’.

Pouarahi and other NZHPT staff such as archaeologists, architects and planners can provide advice to iwi and hapu on the preservation, conservation, protection and management of Maori heritage places. They can also provide advice on the strategies, mechanisms and management tools available to iwi and hapu to exercise their kaitiakitanga and manage their heritage. Each is treated on its individual merits.

The kaupapa for Maori Heritage within the NZHPT is to support the management and kaitiakitanga by whanu, hapu and iwi of their heritage places - whether through hands-on preservation, registration, education, workshops, research, liasison or advocacy.

Maori Buildings Conservation Programme

Wharenui, wharekai, pataka, waka and other forms of Maori built heritage are an important taonga.  The NZHPT actively assists whanau, iwi and hapu initiatives to preserve these taonga through a range of advisory and on-site services including technical advice and assesments, conservation workshops and funding advice.

Maori Heritage and Archaeology

The Historic Places Act 1993 defines an archaeological site as a place associated with pre-1900 human activity where there may be evidence relating to the history of Aotearoa/New Zealand.  It is unlawful to modify or damage an archaeological site without first obtaining an archaeological authority  from NZHPT.  Tangata whenua must be consulted where such sites are culturally significant to Maori.

Maori Heritage and Registration

Registration recognises places that are significant to Aotearoa/New Zealand.  Registration is a process that informs landowners and the public about these places, can support their protection and support applications for funding for preservation work.  Members of the Tira liaise closely with tanagata whenua and other interested groups when preparing registration proposals for wahi tapu and wahi tapu areas.

Registration decisions for wahi tapu are made by the Maori Heritage Council.  The Council needs to be satisified that there is sufficient evidence to support such a proposal and that tangata whenua endorse it.