Disposal of Land by Crown Agencies

29 September 2007

The New Zealand Historic Places Trust has welcomed the government's announcement that the historic heritage values of land to be sold by government departments and other Crown agencies will be assessed. (Please see Trevor Mallard's announcement)

The government's announcement means that land to be sold by Crown agencies will be assessed for heritage values, as well as conservation, Maori cultural, local amenity and other values. Following assessments by the NZHPT and other agencies, suitable protection of these values could be put in place where necessary before the sale occurs.

"The Crown, in its many forms, owns some of the country's most important heritage places. It also owns many historic sites and buildings that communities across New Zealand highly value" said the Chair of the New Zealand Historic Places Trust Board, Dame Anne Salmond. "We are delighted that, from today, when such land is to be sold, heritage values will be assessed, and, if necessary, protected before the sale goes ahead".

While in the past conservation and biodiversity values of land being sold by the Crown have been considered before sale, historic heritage values haven't necessarily been taken into account.
"There have been a number of cases in the past where New Zealanders have been very concerned about the loss of places of iconic value to all New Zealanders that were once owned by the Crown and then sold into private ownership. This process will be used to protect such sites in the future" Bruce Chapman Chief, Executive of the Historic Places Trust, said today.

"The Trust has long been convinced that real progress in safeguarding the nation's heritage will only be achieved when as a nation we are proactive about the protection of heritage, rather than leaving heritage battles to the last minute, when the bulldozers are about to roll" Bruce Chapman said. "In its decision today, the government has given the New Zealand Historic Places Trust the opportunity to take that positive role in protecting heritage owned by the Crown."

The New Zealand Historic Places Trust will be able to achieve protection of heritage by the use of projection mechanisms such as heritage covenants. "Covenants involve an agreement between the Trust and a property owner. Once signed such covenants are permanently attached to a property's title, and bind all subsequent owners to ensure that places are properly maintained and their heritage values are protected".

"The situation that existed before the creation of this new process represented a significant gap in the protection of heritage in this country" said Dame Anne. "The decision announced today is the most important step that could have been be taken by the government at the present time to improve heritage survival rates on land owned by Crown agencies."

For further media information:

Pete Kerr
Marketing and Media Coordinator
New Zealand Historic Places Trust
Ph: 027 683 9065

For more information about process please email: landdisposal@historic.org.nz