Guidelines for nominating a historic heritage item under the District Plan

Purpose of evaluation

We are currently reviewing the District Plan (the Plan), and as part of that review we are looking at the rules around historic heritage. The purpose of evaluation is to identify items of historic heritage significance that have not already been offered a level of protection in the Plan.

What is the heritage items schedule?

The Heritage Items Schedule of the Waitaki District Plan is a list of significant heritage items in the Waitaki District. Inclusion of an item in the schedule means that the item:• has been officially recognised by Waitaki District Council

as being of significant heritage value to the people of Waitaki

• is protected by provisions in the Plan to ensure its significance is not lost

What heritage places can be nominated?

Historic heritage items can include:• archaeological sites and features• buildings, structures, and monuments• groups of inter-related places, including cultural

landscapes; townscapes, streetscapes and settlements• gardens, trees and plantings (associated with a heritage

item)• places of historical or cultural importance including places

of significance to takata whenua such as wāhi tapu (sacred places) and wāhi tūpuna (places of traditional importance or value)

How to nominate an item

Any person or organisation may nominate an item for evaluation by completing and submitting the nomination form. Before you submit a nomination, please read these guidelines to check whether nomination is appropriate and to ensure that you complete the form correctly. You should only nominate an item if you consider it has significant heritage value to the District.

Nomination of an item does not automatically guarantee that it will be evaluated or considered for scheduling. Priority will be given to nominations that clearly identify the values associated with a place and the community to which it is significant, and are supported by relevant background information. Therefore you are encouraged to make a persuasive case for the significance of the item.

Assessment criteria for nominations

Council has identified criteria for evaluating the significance of historic heritage items and the level of significance required to be considered for inclusion in the heritage schedule. Note, although there are a number of Heritage New Zealand listed items already in the District Plan, a separate process is followed for nomination of items of national significance (Heritage New Zealand register). The following factors will be considered when assessing nominations:

1. Archaeological information

Does the place or area have the potential to contribute information about the human history of the region, or to current archaeological research questions, through investigation using archaeological methods?

These guidelines outline the requirements for nominating a historic heritage item for evaluation by Waitaki District Council and will assist you in completing and submitting the nomination form.

2. Architecture

Is the place significant because of its design, form, scale, materials, ornamentation, style, period, craftsmanship or other architectural element?

3. Technology

Does the place demonstrate innovative or important methods of construction or design, does it contain unusual construction materials, is it an early example of the use of a particular construction technique or does it have the potential to contribute information about technological history?

4. Scientific

Does the area or place have the potential to provide scientific information about the history of the region?

5. Historic values

Is the place associated with the life or works of a well-known or important individual, group or organisation, or associated with an important event in local, regional or national history?

6. Cultural values

Is the place or area a focus of community, regional or national identity or sense of place, and does it provide evidence of cultural or historical continuity?

Assessment matter considerations

To be considered eligible for inclusion in the heritage schedule of the Waitaki District Plan, an item must be of exceptional significance to the Waitaki District.

Nominations that are unlikely to meet the criteria or lack sufficient information may not proceed. Sometimes scheduling may not be the most appropriate way of protecting the values of an item. There is a planning process that must then be followed before an item can be scheduled. Through this process, the owner and any other person with an interest in the place will have an opportunity to submit for or against the proposal before a final decision is made. The final decision will be made by Waitaki District Council after the views of the owner and any other affected parties have been considered.

Completing the nomination form

Before you complete the nomination form you should check the Heritage Appendix in the Waitaki District Plan to ensure that the place is not already scheduled:

http://bit.ly/DistrictPlanHeritage

You are encouraged to complete and submit the digital nomination form at www.waitaki.govt.nz.

Further assistance

If you need assistance with completing the form, or have any other queries around the review of historic heritage provisions in the District Plan, please contact:

Mike SearleSenior PlannerEmail: districtplan@waitaki.govt.nz Phone: 03 433 0300