Just before Parliament broke for the election, Chris Finlayson, the Minister for Culture and Heritage introduced the New Zealand Historic Places Trust bill. The NZHPT will have a new name. NZHPT members will lose their branch committees and their Board Representatives.Proposed changes in the Bill include the following:

• Branch Committees to be disestablished.
•  Members lose right to elect three representatives to NZHPT Board. (The Minister will politically appoint the whole Board.)
• Proposed NZHPT new name is Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga

The word around the corridors in Wellington that there is an expectation the Bill, subject to changes from the Select Committee will be passed by June 2012. Time to start planning your submission on the Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga bill. Details of the Bill can be found on line. http://www.legislation.govt.nz/bill/government/2011/0327/6.0/DLM4005414.html

Prediction: The NZHPT membership will be a contentious issue. Is it practical for the NZHPT as a Crown Entity to have members? Will HPA be allowed access to members? (Respecting privacy issues.) NZHPT are currently on a membership drive so we assume they are planning to retain the membership.