Protecting historic heritage
Our district is richly endowed with historic and archaeological assets, many of which are nationally important, like the Treaty House at Waitangi. This is because the Far North has a lengthy history of both Māori and European settlement. Heritage resources are scattered throughout the district and illustrate the continuity of settlement from first Māori occupation until today. There are few places in New Zealand which maintain such strong continuous social and cultural links to the past. Heritage resources include:
- Notable trees: A notable tree is considered significant for historic, botanical, landscape, amenity or cultural reasons;
- Historic sites, buildings and objects:These heritage buildings, sites and objects contribute to the distinctive character of the district by serving as reminders of the past. They are examples of the different stages of our growth as a District;
- Sites of cultural significance to Māori: Cultural sites, including waahi tapu. Waahi tapu are sacred places of spiritual and cultural significance to Māori and relate to their association with tupuna (or ancestors) and historical events;
- Registered archaeological sites: The discovery, recovery and interpretation of the surviving evidence of past human activity in its context in or above the ground; and
- Heritage precincts: Clusters of historic buildings that, in association with the immediate environment, have special amenity and character in addition to their heritage values.
There are many heritage resources, especially archaeological sites and sites of cultural significance to Māori, that are yet to be identified and can only be protected if they are identified. However, the Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga Act 2014 requires that all archaeological sites, whether recorded or unrecorded, are protected.
Public awareness and appreciation for the value of historic heritage is the primary means of safeguarding these resources in the circumstances. Hence there is a need for education, which in turn requires good information. For more information on the heritage resources identified or registered in the Far North District please refer to the Part 4 Appendices in the District Plan.
A heritage precinct is an area with a cluster of historic buildings that, in association with the immediate environment, have special amenity, character and heritage values worthy of conservation for the present community and future generations.
Nine Heritage Precincts have been identified in the District. These are;
- The Strand (Russell)
- Wellington Street (Russell)
- Christ Church (Russell)
- Mangonui
- Kohukohu
- Rawene
- Kerikeri Basin
- Te Waimate North
- Pouerua (Pakaraka)
The Council has developed design guidelines for the first six of the nine heritage precincts. Once resources become available Council will look at developing guidelines for the remaining three.
Heritage precincts are not exempt from normal development pressures and growth patterns. These guidelines provide a starting point for landowners when considering development or renovations to any property within a heritage precinct. Each guideline includes information on what is significant in the precinct, provides a description of its characteristics and guidance on where and how new development might be carried out without undue impact on the significant qualities of the precinct.
Design guidelines for Russell, Mangonui, Rawene and Kohukohu can be downloaded here:
Russell Design Guidelines
Mangonui Design Guidelines
Rawene Design Guidelines
Kohukohu Design Guidelines
There are many heritage resources, especially archaeological sites and Sites of Cultural Significance to Maori, that are yet to be identified and therefore can only be protected if they are identified. However, the Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga Act 2014 requires that all archaeological sites, whether recorded or unrecorded, are protected.
Public awareness and appreciation for the value of historic heritage is the primary means of safeguarding these resources in the circumstances. Hence there is a need for education, which in turn requires good information. For more information on the heritage resources identified/registered in the Far North District please refer to the Appendices located in the back of the Far North District Plan.