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Wāhi Taonga me ngā wāhi whaipara

Wāhi Taonga and Archaeological Sites Review

Sites that are important to iwi/hapū and/or that have important archaeological values are identified and protected in the Operative District Plan 2005 and the Proposed District Plan – Appeals Version 2023.

The information about sites was originally obtained from New Zealand Archaeological Association records and from iwi/hapū in the mid-1990s. Much of the geographical location information received was inaccurate, due in part to the transfer from imperial to metric measurements.

Inaccurately located symbols on the planning maps increased the risk that some sites might be destroyed, damaged or modified. There was also a significant impact on the day-to-day administration of the District Plan which led to inefficiencies.  

Despite efforts to improve the accuracy of this data there were on-going issues regarding the location and description of sites. A wider review of wāhi tapu and archaeological sites was initiated in 2007, to confirm the location of sites on the planning maps and to map their extents where possible, as iwi/hapu were available.  

The review focused on building relationships between landowners and iwi/hapū to ensure the protection and management of sites over time. Archaeological assessments were completed, and sites were given an extent where possible. Landowner consultation was an important part of this process.  

As a result, the Proposed District Plan – Appeals Version 2023 includes more accurately located symbols and extents on the planning maps for many of the sites in the New Plymouth District.   Whilst the District Plan includes updated site information for several hapū rohe (tribal areas), it is likely that site information for other hapū rohe will become known and future plan changes will be required to the District Plan. 

Page last updated: 09:45am Tue 02 July 2024

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