Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga

Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga
Name	Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga
Formation	1954
Type	Crown entity
Headquarters	Wellington
Location	New Zealand
Region served	New Zealand
Leader title	Chief Executive

Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga is the national agency responsible for the identification, protection, and promotion of New Zealand's historic places, structures, and cultural landscapes. It operates within a network of institutions including the Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage (New Zealand), Department of Conservation (New Zealand), Te Puni Kōkiri, Ngāi Tahu, and local territorial authorities such as Auckland Council, Wellington City Council, and Christchurch City Council. The agency interacts with heritage bodies like ICOMOS New Zealand, New Zealand Historic Places Trust, Historic Places Trust Act 1954, and international partners including UNESCO, ICOMOS, and International Council on Monuments and Sites.

History

The organisation traces origins to the Historic Places Act 1954, responding to campaigns by figures such as Gerardus van der Heyden, Ralph Hotere, and institutions like the New Zealand Historic Places Trust. Early conservation debates involved sites like Marsden Cross, Old St Paul's (Wellington), and disputes in cities including Auckland, Christchurch, and Dunedin. Over decades it interacted with events and developments including the 1969 Apollo 11 commemorations, the aftermath of the Christchurch earthquake, and legislative change exemplified by the Resource Management Act 1991 and the Historic Places Act 1993. Relationships with iwi evolved alongside settlements such as the Ngāi Tahu Claims Settlement Act 1998 and consultations concerning Waitangi Tribunal reports. Key personalities and advocates involved in the organisation's evolution included Sir Paul Callaghan, Bill Manhire, Mason Durie, Anne Salmond, and Michael King.

Functions and Responsibilities

The agency administers the statutory register created under laws like the Historic Places Act 1993 and advises on matters covered by the Resource Management Act 1991, liaising with entities such as Environment Court of New Zealand, Auckland Unitary Plan Independent Hearings Panel, and regional councils like the Canterbury Regional Council. Responsibilities include heritage assessment for developments at sites like Port Chalmers, Wellington Waterfront, Lyttelton Harbour, and heritage precincts such as Napier, Hastings, and Rotorua. It provides guidance to restoration projects involving structures like the Aotea Centre, Auckland War Memorial Museum, Te Papa Tongarewa, and Otago Museum, and supports community bodies including Historic Places Hawke's Bay, Preservation Trusts of New Zealand, and Heritage Trust of New Zealand.

Organisational Structure

The body comprises a board, advisory panels, regional teams, and specialist staff including architects, archaeologists, and historians who engage with professionals from New Zealand Institute of Architects, New Zealand Archaeological Association, Institute of Management New Zealand, and universities such as University of Auckland, University of Otago, Victoria University of Wellington, Massey University, and University of Canterbury. It collaborates with research institutions like Department of Conservation (New Zealand), Wrigley Institute, and museums including Auckland War Memorial Museum, Canterbury Museum, and Te Papa Tongarewa. Governance intersects with ministers including the Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage (New Zealand), and statutory instruments like the Crown Entities Act 2004.

Heritage List and Registration

The statutory register lists categories akin to those recognized by UNESCO World Heritage Committee and national registers such as Historic Scotland, English Heritage, and National Trust (United Kingdom). Registered entries include archaeological sites like Wairau Bar, colonial buildings such as Old St Paul's (Wellington), industrial heritage examples like Halswell Quarry Tramway, maritime heritage including TSS Earnslaw, and Māori heritage places like Te Kōhanga Reo sites and Māori pā including Puketapu Pā and Rangiriri Pā. Registration criteria parallel standards used by ICOMOS New Zealand and involve consultation with iwi authorities including Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Ngāti Porou, Ngāpuhi, Tūhoe, and Te Arawa.

Legislation and Policy Framework

The agency operates under statutes including the Historic Places Act 1993, the Resource Management Act 1991, and the Crown Entities Act 2004, and works with national strategies such as the New Zealand Heritage Strategy and conventions like the World Heritage Convention. Policy development references reports and inquiries such as the Royal Commission on the Pike River Coal Mine Tragedy and engages with tribunals and courts including the Environment Court of New Zealand and High Court of New Zealand. It coordinates with government ministries including Ministry for Culture and Heritage (New Zealand), Ministry for the Environment (New Zealand), and Te Puni Kōkiri on statutory protections and funding schemes like the Community Facilities Fund and heritage funding administered through entities such as Lottery Grants Board.

Notable Sites and Projects

Notable registrations and projects include work on Larnach Castle, Waitangi Treaty Grounds, Brittania House, Rongotai Homestead, Napier's Art Deco precinct, Blenheim's Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre collaborations, earthquake strengthening in ChristChurch Cathedral, restoration of Old St Mary's Cathedral, conservation at Motu Kaikoura, and maritime preservation such as the HMS New Zealand memorial and SS Wairarapa site surveys. Community-driven projects involved groups like Friends of the Octagon, Preservation Trust of Hawke's Bay, St John's Hospital Trust, and partnerships with institutions such as Auckland War Memorial Museum, National Library of New Zealand, Hawke's Bay Museums Trust, and Canterbury Museum.

Criticism and Controversies

Controversies have arisen over decisions affecting sites including disputes at Wellington Waterfront, contentious demolitions in Auckland CBD, post-earthquake rebuilds in Christchurch, and heritage impact assessments for projects like Transmission Gully Motorway and urban developments at Britomart Transport Centre. Critiques often reference tensions with iwi such as Ngāi Tahu and Ngāti Porou, heritage advocacy groups including Forest & Bird, Architecture + Women NZ, Historic Places Aotearoa, and legal challenges in the Environment Court of New Zealand. Debates also involve funding priorities compared with allocations to agencies like the Department of Conservation (New Zealand) and heritage NGOs including National Trust (United Kingdom), and media coverage in outlets like The New Zealand Herald, Stuff.co.nz, and Radio New Zealand.

Category:Heritage organisations in New Zealand