Heritage New Zealand provides an overview of heritage rules in district plans in New Zealand. Heritage New Zealand also provides guidance for model district plan rules as part of the Sustainable Management of Historic Heritage Guidance Series. Heritage New Zealand is currently updating this guidance (at the time of publishing this guidance note).
Local authorities need to select an appropriate regulatory control that corresponds with the scale and significance of the heritage issue. This will occur as part of an evaluation under section 32 of the RMA which needs to consider the effectiveness and efficiency of the options in relation to the costs and benefits of the anticipated environmental, economic, social and cultural effects.
Local authorities need to consider an appropriate regulatory control that corresponds with the scale and significance of the heritage issue. On the basis of existing practice, the most common heritage rules are listed in the table below.
|
Rule |
Consent status |
Notes |
|
Repair and maintenance
Removal of an identified non-contributory item within the setting of a heritage place
|
Permitted with performance standards |
The rule should be designed for all types of heritage places – buildings, historic sites, Māori heritage |
|
Alterations and additions |
Restricted Discretionary |
Provision should be made for encouraging building safety-related alterations such as earthquake strengthening as a permitted or controlled activity
|
|
Subdivision, signage, earthworks, new buildings within the setting of a listed heritage place
|
Restricted Discretionary or Discretionary |
Signage rules should cover signs attached or signs that may obscure a heritage place |
|
Relocation or partial demolition |
Discretionary or Non-Complying |
Relocation rules should apply to both on-site relocation and off-site
|
|
Demolition or destruction |
Non-Complying |
