Cultural Heritage

The Kaipara District is home to a rich tapestry of historic heritage, woven from diverse threads of Māori and European settlement, industry, and everyday life. It is a district defined by its unique history and shaped by its heritage sites, buildings, landscapes, and areas, each of which tell a tale of the past and contribute to the identity of the Kaipara community.

Among the district's many heritage assets, several stand out as particularly significant. Wāhi tapu sites bear testament to early Māori settlement, their sacredness echoing the deep spiritual connection between the land and its indigenous people. The remnants of timber mills and gum digging areas illustrate the industrious endeavors of our forebears, while historic homes offer a glimpse into the lives of the European settlers who came to call Kaipara home. Many of these sites are not only of local significance but are also recognized nationally, and are protected as registered buildings or sites with Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga under the Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga Act 2014.

However, the stewardship of our historic heritage is not without challenges. The threat of inappropriate subdivision, use, and development looms over many sites, particularly those that do not currently benefit from legal protection. The Operative District Plan only protects those sites listed with Heritage New Zealand, leaving numerous heritage homes and buildings across the District at risk of modification or removal.

In light of these challenges, the Kaipara District Council is committed to ensuring the protection of our historic heritage. The Kaipara District Plan Review Discussion Document Summary advocates for community involvement in identifying historic heritage, and for the Council to actively fulfill its obligation under section 6(f) of the Resource Management Act 1991. This includes the engagement of experts to carry out a district-wide assessment to inform the scheduling of areas, trees, and structures in the new Kaipara District Plan.

As we embark on this journey of historic heritage protection, we strive to balance the need for development with the preservation of our shared history. We believe that by safeguarding our heritage, we can enhance the unique character of our district, nurture a sense of place and identity, and ensure that the rich history of Kaipara continues to be appreciated by future generations.

District Level Objectives

1. To identify, protect and enhance the district's historic heritage.

2. To ensure the adaptive reuse and maintenance of historic heritage sites and structures.

3. To increase public awareness and appreciation of the district's historic heritage.

Zone Level Objectives

1. To safeguard the integrity and significance of historic heritage sites and structures in each zone.

2. To ensure developments in and around historic heritage sites respect their heritage values.

3. To support community-led initiatives for the conservation and celebration of zone-specific historic heritage.

Area Level Objectives

1. To identify and protect area-specific historic heritage elements that contribute to the unique identity of specific areas.

2. To ensure that the management and use of historic heritage sites in each area are sensitive to their historic and cultural values.

3. To engage local communities in the conservation and promotion of their area's historic heritage.

District Level Policies

1. DP2.1: Develop and maintain a comprehensive register of the district's historic heritage, including sites, structures, and areas of significant historic interest.

2. DP2.2: Promote the adaptive reuse and regular maintenance of historic heritage sites and structures to ensure their longevity and continued relevance.

3. DP2.3: Foster public awareness and appreciation of the district's historic heritage through educational programs, interpretive signage, and heritage events.

Zone Level Policies

1. ZP2.1: Establish protective measures that uphold the integrity and significance of historic heritage sites and structures within each zone.

2. ZP2.2: Develop guidelines that ensure developments in and around historic heritage sites are respectful of their heritage values.

3. ZP2.3: Encourage and support community-led initiatives for the conservation, celebration, and interpretation of zone-specific historic heritage.

Area Level Policies

1. AP2.1: Identify and protect area-specific historic heritage elements that contribute to the unique historical, cultural, and aesthetic identity of specific areas.

2. AP2.2: Ensure the management and use of historic heritage sites in each area are in line with best-practice heritage conservation principles and sensitive to their historic and cultural values.

3. AP2.3: Foster community engagement in the conservation, promotion, and interpretation of their area's historic heritage through community partnerships, education programs, and local heritage events.

District Level Rules

1. DP2.1: Establish a comprehensive heritage register that identifies and catalogs all historic heritage sites, structures, and areas of significant historic interest in the district. This could be mandated through a heritage preservation ordinance or similar regulation.

2. DP2.2: Implement regulations that encourage the adaptive reuse and regular maintenance of historic heritage sites and structures. This could include incentives such as tax breaks or grants for property owners who restore and maintain historic properties.

3. DP2.3: Develop regulations that require the inclusion of educational programs, interpretive signage, and heritage events in the management plans for historic heritage sites.

Zone Level Rules

1. ZP2.1: Implement zoning regulations that protect the integrity and significance of historic heritage sites and structures. This could include heritage overlay zones that impose additional restrictions on development to protect heritage values.

2. ZP2.2: Develop design guidelines for developments in and around historic heritage sites to ensure they respect heritage values. This could be part of the site plan approval process.

3. ZP2.3: Establish regulations that encourage and support community-led initiatives for the conservation and celebration of historic heritage. This could include providing funding or other resources for community-led heritage projects.

Area Level Rules

1. AP2.1: Implement regulations that identify and protect area-specific historic heritage elements. This could include local heritage surveys and the establishment of local design guidelines or overlays.

2. AP2.2: Develop regulations that ensure the management and use of historic heritage sites are in line with best-practice heritage conservation principles. This could include requirements for heritage impact assessments for any proposed changes to historic heritage sites.

3. AP2.3: Establish regulations that foster community engagement in the conservation and promotion of their area's historic heritage. This could include requirements for public consultation and community involvement in the management of historic heritage sites.

This could include maps showing historic sites and areas, areas with specific historic heritage provisions or restrictions, etc.

This section would outline how the success of the policies in achieving the objectives will be monitored and evaluated. This could include indicators of the state of historic sites and areas, changes in public awareness and appreciation of historic heritage, etc., and monitoring of policy implementation and outcomes.

The Kaipara District in New Zealand is home to a diverse range of archaeological sites, principally associated with early Māori occupation. These sites serve as an important testament to the rich cultural history and the ancestral footprints of the region. The coastal expanses and some inland areas of the district feature numerous significant sites including pā sites, terraces, pits, and middens, all of which offer invaluable insights into the past.

The protection of these archaeological sites from harm, whether from development, natural hazards, or neglect, is a responsibility shared by the community, the local government, and the national authorities. The Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga Act 2014 provides legal protection to all archaeological sites in New Zealand. Any activities posing potential harm to these sites, such as modification or destruction, must be authorized by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust.

The district plans add another layer of protection, particularly in the identification of these sites. They can establish rules that ensure Mana Whenua have the opportunity to assess both the cultural and archaeological values of sites and areas of significance to Māori. This process highlights the importance of local knowledge and cultural perspectives in preserving the historical heritage of the area.

However, the preservation and protection of these archaeological sites in the Kaipara District are not without challenges. The current provisions relating to sites and areas of significance to Māori are not fully aligned with best practices in terms of involving iwi and hapū in identifying culturally significant sites. This gap in the process underscores the importance of further efforts to integrate indigenous knowledge and participation in the process of preserving archaeological sites. Through such integration, we can ensure that the cultural heritage of the Kaipara District is appropriately valued and protected, thus preserving the district's historical richness for future generations.

District Level Objectives

1. To identify, protect and manage the district's archaeological sites.

2. To ensure that development proposals consider potential impacts on archaeological sites.

3. To increase public awareness and understanding of the district's archaeological heritage.

Zone Level Objectives

1. To protect the integrity and significance of archaeological sites in each zone.

2. To manage development in and around archaeological sites to avoid adverse effects.

3. To support initiatives that enhance understanding and appreciation of zone-specific archaeological heritage.

Area Level Objectives

1. To safeguard area-specific archaeological sites that contribute to the unique history and identity of specific areas.

2. To encourage community engagement and education in the preservation and understanding of their local archaeological heritage.

3. To ensure that development in each area is sensitive to the potential presence of undiscovered archaeological sites.

District Level Policies

1. DP1.1: Implement a systematic process for identifying and recording the district's archaeological sites, ensuring that this information is accessible and up-to-date.

2. DP1.2: Develop guidelines for development proposals to ensure appropriate consideration of potential impacts on known and potential archaeological sites.

3. DP1.3: Promote public education and outreach programmes to enhance understanding and appreciation of the district's archaeological heritage.

Zone Level Policies

1. ZP1.1: Establish protection measures that maintain the integrity and significance of archaeological sites within each zone.

2. ZP1.2: Implement stringent development controls around archaeological sites to minimize adverse effects, including mandatory archaeological assessments for development proposals in sensitive areas.

3. ZP1.3: Support and encourage community-led initiatives that promote the understanding and appreciation of archaeological heritage within their respective zones.

Area Level Policies

1. AP1.1: Prioritize the protection of local archaeological sites that significantly contribute to the historical and cultural identity of specific areas.

2. AP1.2: Foster community engagement in the preservation and interpretation of local archaeological heritage through education programs and local events.

3. AP1.3: Implement a precautionary approach in areas with high potential for undiscovered archaeological sites, ensuring that potential impacts are adequately considered in development proposals.

District Level Rules

1. DP1.1: Establish a comprehensive archaeological register that identifies and catalogs all archaeological sites in the district. This could be mandated through an archaeological preservation ordinance or similar regulation.

2. DP1.2: Implement regulations that require development proposals to include an archaeological impact assessment, particularly for sites known or likely to contain archaeological resources.

3. DP1.3: Develop regulations that require the inclusion of public education and outreach programs in the management plans for archaeological sites.

Zone Level Rules

1. ZP1.1: Implement zoning regulations that protect the integrity and significance of archaeological sites. This could include archaeological overlay zones that impose additional restrictions on development to protect archaeological values.

2. ZP1.2: Develop stringent development controls around archaeological sites to minimize adverse effects. This could include mandatory archaeological assessments for development proposals in sensitive areas.

3. ZP1.3: Establish regulations that support and encourage community-led initiatives for the understanding and appreciation of archaeological heritage. This could include providing funding or other resources for community-led archaeological projects.

Area Level Rules

1. AP1.1: Implement regulations that protect local archaeological sites that significantly contribute to the historical and cultural identity of specific areas. This could include local archaeological surveys and the establishment of local design guidelines or overlays.

2. AP1.2: Develop regulations that foster community engagement in the preservation and interpretation of local archaeological heritage. This could include requirements for public consultation and community involvement in the management of archaeological sites.

3. AP1.3: Implement a precautionary approach in areas with high potential for undiscovered archaeological sites. This could include requirements for archaeological impact assessments for any proposed developments in these areas.

This could include maps showing archaeological sites and areas, areas with specific archaeological site provisions or restrictions, etc.

This section would outline how the success of the policies in achieving the objectives will be monitored and evaluated. This could include indicators of the state of archaeological sites, changes in public awareness and appreciation of archaeological heritage, etc., and monitoring of policy implementation and outcomes.