New Zealand's state highway network closely aligns with the traditional trails and tracks that connected early settlements. Towns and cities have grown up around these routes leading to buildingsCultural and settings that talk to the stories and character of these places. While buildings, monuments, bridges and tunnels are visible in the landscape, many of New Zealand’shistoric heritage is multi-dimensional – it includes built structures, archaeological sites including pa, midden and Māori burial sites are not. State highway activities have the potential to damage or disturb these places of cultural, archaeological and historic importance including places of significance to Māori. These dimensions can overlap or stand alone.
New Zealand's state highway network closely aligns with the traditional travel paths that connected historical settlements. As a result, state highway activities have the potential to damage or disturb places of cultural, archaeological or historic importance including places of significance to Māori.
The Resource Management Act (1991) and Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga Act 2014 provide strong legislative support for the protection of culture and heritage within New Zealand, which means we give particular consideration to the effects of state highways on cultural and historic heritage values.This, coupled with the strong legislative support that exists for the protection of culture and heritage within New Zealand, means we take particular consideration to the effects of state highways on cultural and heritage values.
How state highways can affect cultural and historic heritage
State highway activities including construction and network maintenance have the potential to adversely affect cultural and historic heritage through:
State highway activities have the potential to adversely affect culture and heritage through:
earthworks that damage in-ground archaeological material
vibration caused by large traffic volumes, which can adversely affect heritage structures and archaeological sitesdemolition or relocation of buildings and structures
rendering structures redundant and obsolete
vibration and ground dewatering during and post construction the loss of the heritage character of an area
the loss of the heritage character of an area from the construction or maintenance of state highways.
Our commitment to cultural and historic heritage
Our commitment to cultural and historic heritage
We have developed a number of initiatives to help us to meet our commitments including:
proactively limiting the disturbance of significant cultural and heritage features along state highways
proactively limiting the disturbance of significant cultural and heritage features along state highwaysshowing respect for the heritage buildings we own and maintaining their integrity
showing respect for the historic buildings we own, and maintain their integrityexploring adaptive reuse options for heritage structures that provide an ongoing use
maintaining a Memorandum of understanding with Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taongamaintaining a memorandum of understanding with Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga
development of a guide to assessing historic heritage effects for state highway projects
development of a guide to assessing historic heritage effects for state highway projectsmaintaining a heritage inventory
maintaining a heritage inventorydeveloping minimum standards for what needs to be done if archaeological remains are accidentally discovered
developing minimum standards for what needs to be done if archaeological remains are accidently discoveredpreparing a guideline to assist with the management of heritage assets
research.research to develop a tool to measure the economic value of heritage.
Relevant legislation
Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga Act 2014
The Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga Act 2014 promotes the identification, protection, preservation and conservation of the historical and cultural heritage of New Zealand. It is administered by Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga (formerly the Historic Places Trust). The act contains specific provisions relating to the protection of archaeological sites, historic places and historic areas.
Read the Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga Act 2014
Other legislation
The Protected Objects Act 1975 regulates the export of protected New Zealand objects, the illegal export and import of protected New Zealand and foreign objects, and the sale, trade and ownership of objects relating to Māori culture.
Read the Protected Objects Act 1975
The Conservation Act 1987 and the Reserves Act 1977 promote the conservation of New Zealand's natural and historic resources.