A copy of the Historic Places Aotearoa "Submission to Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage Draft Policy for Government Management of Cultural Heritage" can be downloaded at the following link:
Tag: Historic Places Aotearoa
Submission to the Environment Committee Inquiry on the Natural and Built Environments Bill: Parliamentary Paper HPA / ICOMOS NZ JOINT SUBMISSION
You can download the Historic Places Aotearoa / ICOMOS Joint Submission at the following link:
The following is a link to all the Submission made to the Environment Committee:
“Loss of Heritage EQUIP funding a blow” Historic Places Aotearoa / ICOMOS Media Release
The Government’s decision to discontinue funding for seismic strengthening of heritage buildings is a serious setback for owners, Historic Places Aotearoa president James Blackburne said today.
The decision not to extend Heritage EQUIP (Earthquake Upgrade Incentive Programme) funding past the end of June 2021 slipped through in the May Budget without arousing any media comment. “This cut is a major blow to heritage preservation as the fund had been making extremely worthwhile grants towards seismic strengthening of heritage buildings as required by the Building (Earthquake Prone Buildings) Amendment Act, 2016,” Mr Blackburne said.
ICOMOS NZ Chairperson, Pamela Dziwulska, agrees with HPA – “it’s an incredibly sad loss for built heritage in Aotearoa – buildings are at the forefront of everybody’s day to day experiences of their town centres, cities, and even rural settings. ....
Adaptation, using the right expertise, makes the most sense if the goal is to be sustainable and meet climate change targets. The government put these time limits on building owners who are acting as the kaitiaki, but have now taken away one of their main sources of monetary aid in order to protect and maintain Aotearoa’s cultural heritage for future generations.”
HPA executive member and Whanganui district councillor Helen Craig said Heritage EQUIP was revolutionary in that it funded private owners of buildings.
“It was one of the most effective, best-run and most-responsive funding mechanism I’ve seen.
The Media Release can downloaded at the following link:
“Where Are The Heritage Policies? – HPA” Historic Places Aotearoa Media Release (04:10:2020)
The lack of heritage policies in party manifestos a fortnight from the country’s General Election is disappointing, says the country’s independent voice for heritage Historic Places Aotearoa.
President James Blackburne says that, to date, only the Greens and New Zealand First have released a heritage-related policy.
“The other parties have either not formed a policy or are yet to present one. We find this extremely disappointing.
“Heritage is an intrinsic part of our country and the communities within it. It makes us who we are and makes us unique globally.
“With potential changes to the Resource Management Act looming, we are conscious and concerned that heritage will take a back seat,” he said.
“Heritage has an economic value for the New Zealand economy. New Zealand is not just about clean and green. Heritage is what a lot of people come to see and is an important part of domestic and international tourism. Heritage tourism visitors not only stay longer, they spend more money.”
Historic Places Aotearoa, which represents member organisations around the country, believes heritage should be visible, valued, indispensable and protected.
“We would like to see the parties offer the VIP treatment for heritage with funding and support for key public initiatives including a national heritage plaques programme, heritage awards and festivals.
“We believe funding should be boosted for key government initiatives such as Heritage Equip support to private building owners, Lotteries grants and tax incentives for heritage projects, and for the heritage team itself at the Ministry of Culture and Heritage.”
Mr Blackburne said heritage agencies needed support with heritage prioritised for protection, planning and funding via local and central government.
“We need to create an environment where heritage becomes indispensable to the economic and social wellbeing of our communities. And we need strong legislation to protect privately and publicly owned heritage sites, as well as making provisions for sympathetic new development in character areas.
“Let’s hear what the parties are offering… and fast.”
“Covid-19 Recovery (Fast-track) Consenting Bill.” Historic Places Aotearoa Submission
Historic Places Aotearoa made the following Submission to the Covid (Fast-track) Consenting Bill".
HPA President James Blackburne appeared before the House Committee.
Ministry for the Environment Manatū Mō Te Taiao “Comprehensive review of the resource management system – preliminary questions for initial stakeholder engagement” HPA Submission
The following is the text of the Historic Places Submission:
Dear Review Panel
This submission is made by Historic Places Aotearoa (HPA) which welcomes the opportunity to comment on the issues and options paper relating to the RMA review.
The reasons for making this submission are that HPA promotes the preservation of historic places in Aotearoa New Zealand. HPA also has an interest in promoting the education of the public in the appreciation of heritage values. HPA is a key stakeholder in
the consultation process and answerable to its affiliated regional societies and affiliated membership.
HPA makes the following two main points. Firstly, we do not wish to see the existing (fairly weak) support for built and other heritage in the RMA further weakened. While heritage is identified as a matter of national significance, in practice the general provision often falls short for actual protection in specific cases. In the last three years, for example, 3 Category 1 Heritage New Zealand listed buildings either have already been demolished or are in the process of being demolished. These are Aniwaniwa (Visitors Center Lake Waikaremoana), Erskin College main block Wellington, and the former teachers college at Karori Wellington.
Countless category 2 buildings have been demolished all around Aotearoa. Councils are generally under resourced to support property owners who are willing to repair substandard heritage buildings. In other cases, owners target heritage buildings as a cheap option for demolition and development.
HPA supports efforts to make good use of urban space for much needed additional housing etc, but not at the further expense of retaining heritage buildings.
Secondly, HPA supports the idea to introduce a mechanism for Councils to use spacial planning as a way of directing development into suitable specified areas, and thus provide clearer signals about where development and intensification would be welcome while identifying heritage areas where that is not suitable.
Yours sincerely
JAMES BLACKBURNE
President Historic Places Aotearoa
HPA “Submission on NATIONAL POLICY STATEMENT – URBAN DEVELOPMENT” ( Ministry for the Environment Manatū Mō Te Taiao )
The following is the text of the Historic Places Aotearoa Submission:
Submission on
NATIONAL POLICY STATEMENT - URBAN DEVELOPMENT
This submission is made by Historic Places Aotearoa Inc. (HPA) which welcomes the opportunity to comment on the proposed National Policy Statement on Urban Development (NPS-UD).
The reasons for making this submission are that HPA promotes the preservation of historic places in Aotearoa New Zealand. HPA also has an interest to promote the education of the public in the appreciation of heritage values. HPA is a key stakeholder in the consultation process and answerable to its affiliated regional societies and associated membership.
HPA has reviewed the NPS-UD and considered the impact the proposed statement will make with respect to this countries heritage buildings.
HPA has a particular interest in the subject of this NPS-UD, as it has the potential to dramatically change the distinctive heritage character of sections of New Zealand cities and towns.
(more…)HPA / ICOMOS NZ Combined Conference Gisborne 2019
Images of the HPA Combined Conference 2019 held in Gisborne.
REMINDER: Historic Places Aotearoa / ICOMOS NZ Joint Conference (2019) Registration Is Due 1st October
The joint Conference is being held in Gisborne Tairāwhiti, on the 11-13 October.
Time has been set aside for Historic Places Aotearoa and ICOMOS NZ to hold their respective AGMs during the Conference.
Registration and payment for the Historic Places Aotearoa and ICOMOS NZ Joint Conference is due 1 October 2019.
HPA President Addresses The Whanganui Heritage Trust AGM (2019)
The following report (and image) of James Blackburne's Whanganui Heritage Trust AGM Presentation appears in the HNZPT "Heritage This Month" e-newsletter.
Key messages given to Whanganui Heritage Trust AGM
Fifty members of the Whanganui Regional Heritage Trust were urged to get out and tell the stories of our heritage places by James Blackburne (pictured), President of Historic Places Aotearoa, at the trust’s recent annual general meeting in Whanganui.
James, an architectural partner based in Gisborne, has been working hard since the formation of Historic Places Aotearoa in 2010 at building a network of likeminded, independent regional heritage organisations in New Zealand.
(more…)