Introduction

The New Zealand Historic Places Trust Pouhere Taonga was established by an Act of Parliament in 1954. Over the past 50 years, the NZHPT has become New Zealand's leading national historic heritage agency, and is seen as the guardian of Aotearoa New Zealand's (historic) heritage. It is governed and managed as a crown entity under the Crown Entities Act 2004, and its powers and functions are prescribed by the Historic Places Act 1993.

It is currently governed by a Board of Trustees and a Maori Heritage Council. The national office for the Trust is in Antrim House,Wellington, with regional and area offices located in Kerikeri, Auckland, Tauranga, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin.

The Trust’s mission is to promote the identification, protection, preservation and conservation of the historical and cultural heritage of New Zealand.

The distinctive characteristics of New Zealand’s land and buildings are important to the way we shape our communities; socially, economically, aesthetically and culturally. The NZHPT believes the conservation of this heritage enables New Zealanders to develop a greater understanding of our history and identity.

Part of this heritage is lost forever each time an historic place is irrevocably changed. The NZHPT's goal is to minimise unnecessary losses and damage by ensuring that the value of our heritage is acknowledged, before irreversible damage is done.