Plans, policies and reports
Hauraki Gulf Islands review
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Issues and options papers
Heritage
Issue
Heritage resources cover many aspects of our environment, and include buildings,
sites, objects, trees, landscapes, landforms, archaeological and geological
sites and ecological areas. District Plans have a responsibility to secure the
preservation and maintenance of these resources for the experience and enjoyment
of present and future generations as well as preserving their intrinsic values
and finite characteristics.
The Hauraki Gulf has a rich legacy of widely appreciated elements, both
natural and built. However, recent research into heritage issues within the
Hauraki Gulf indicates that the current District Plan poorly defines and
protects heritage values. The Hauraki Gulf Islands Plan review offers an
opportunity to introduce a thorough and robust heritage system and protection
mechanisms for the Hauraki Gulf.
Heritage resources are an essential part of the Hauraki Gulf's environmental
and cultural values. Their retention adds to the body of cultural experience and
is part of an essential cultural framework that helps inspire and bind the
community. Conservation of heritage resources is an important way to enhance the
identity and amenity the Hauraki Gulf offers both its residents and visitors.
The Resource Management Amendment Act 2004 elevated all heritage to being a
"matter of national importance", and hence escalated its significance
in relation to other issues covered by that legislation. The amendment also
emphasises the need for territorial authorities to maintain indigenous
biological diversity. As biodiversity and ecology fit within the broad heritage
spectrum there is now greater emphasis on this issue than there was when the
current District Plan was written.
In managing the use and development of the district's natural and physical
resources, the Council is required to have particular regard to the recognition
and protection of the heritage value of sites, buildings, places or areas. To
give effect to this obligation, the Plan may:
- identify those heritage resources worthy of preservation; and
- adopt suitable measures to secure the preservation of identified heritage
resources.
Therefore, the Plan should attend to the protection of a number of heritage
features: natural, cultural and scientific. A detailed heritage assessment and
related provisions have not previously been included in the HGI District Plan.
New evaluation systems have been established for the different disciplines to
recognise heritage values in the Gulf in the context of its particular history
and scale of value. Since the Hauraki Gulf is so extensive it will not be
feasible to undertake a full assessment of all heritage aspects for the whole of
the Gulf. It is instead necessary to focus on particular parts of the Gulf where
development pressures are most acute, particularly Waiheke and Rakino Islands.
Auckland City's heritage division, along with a team of specialists in the
various areas of heritage, have been engaged in a zero-based site survey and
review of all Gulf heritage, concentrating initially in the inner islands of
Waiheke, Rakino, Rotoroa, Motutatpu, Motukorea, Rangitoto, Motuihe and Pakatoa.
Possible approaches
You may have a better or alternative approach to those outlined below. If so,
we would like to hear from you.
- Status quo. Roll over the existing heritage provisions within the current
District Plan. This would provide limited protection for heritage resources
in the Hauraki Gulf and would not include new data from surveys.
- Continue the heritage assessment of the entire Hauraki Gulf and develop an
appropriate assessment system for each of the heritage aspects. Criteria
would be determined for each heritage aspect so that trigger points for
resource consents could be developed. Monitoring would be through resource
consents granted. This would ensure that the inclusion of any heritage
system did not differentiate between the Inner and Outer Islands. However,
it is unlikely that there would be sufficient resources or time to complete
a full heritage assessment for the entire Hauraki Gulf prior to notification
of the Hauraki Gulf Islands Plan review.
- Implement the completed heritage assessment of the Inner Gulf islands and
complete the development of appropriate assessment system for each of the
heritage aspects. This would mean heritage aspects that are the most at
threat through development pressures would be afforded protection through
the District Plan. A plan change could later be introduced for the Outer
Islands when resources became available. This approach would differentiate
between the Inner and Outer Islands and leave the heritage resources of the
Outer Islands with limited protection until a plan change was developed.
Note:
While this issue paper can be read in isolation, it is best read in
association with the issue papers relating to:
