Legal Protection of Archaeological Sites

The Historic Places Act 1993 makes it 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, or the activity is permitted under the District or Regional Plan or a resource or building consent has been granted, the Act also provides for substantial penalties for unauthorised destruction, damage or modification.

Obtaining an Authority from the Trust

The archaeological authority application form is available in three versions:

If there is chance you may damage a site, you must apply to the Historic Places Trust for permission to do so. The NZHPT can advise you of the most suitable course of action. If you uncover a previously unknown site during earthworks, you may also need permission to continue. You must stop any work that would affect the site and contact the Trust for advice on how to proceed.

Any person wishing to carry out an investigation that might disturb an archaeological site in any way must also apply to the NZHPT for permission to do so.

For further information on investigating archaeological sites please contact the NZHPT or e-mail archaeologist@historic.org.nz

Complying with an Archaeological Authority

Archaeological sites are an irreplaceable part of our heritage and although our history is short, it is rich, varied and unique, and belongs to all New Zealanders. What we discover from archaeological sites helps us to better understand our past and to learn from it. By complying with your authority conditions, you help add to our knowledge and help us preserve our heritage for the future.

The NZHPT takes compliance seriously, and the Historic Places Act has strong provisions for non-compliance. The NZHPT wants to see the best outcome for the archaeological sites and to help ensure your project runs smoothly. Answers to commonly asked questions are provided in this brochure (pdf 285kb). If you have other questions please call the Regional Archaeologist in the NZHPT office nearest you.