Heritage
Back to Types of protection
Scheduled buildings, objects, heritage
properties or places
of special value
Auckland has a unique heritage as a centre of early settlement and commercial
growth.
 |
Huia Lodge, Cornwall Park.
Built in 1903 as a hunting lodge
for John Logan Campbell. |
As part of its role in the preservation, protection and conservation of
valued features of the city's physical environment, the district plan identifies certain
individual buildings, groups of buildings, objects and places as being
significant and worthy of protection in the public interest.
This information provides general details about the requirements for
protecting buildings, objects, heritage
properties or places
of special value in the district plan - isthmus section.
Schedules of these valued features
in the Hauraki Gulf islands or the central area are available in Appendix
B - Hauraki Gulf islands section and
Appendix 1 - Central area section (this can be viewed at City Planning,
Level 11, Civic service centre ) or
for information, contact
us.
The schedule of buildings, objects, heritage
properties or places
of special value in the Auckland isthmus are identified in the planning maps and Appendix 1
of the district plan - isthmus section.
What are heritage buildings, objects, etc?
 |
|
Kinder House, Parnell.
Built in 1857 for the Headmaster of
the Church of England Grammar
school, the Rev. Kinder. |
This may be a site, a building, its interior and its grounds; or objects such
as stones, fortifications or wells. As original remnants or reminders of our past, heritage places are a limited
resource which cannot be recreated.
The time-span of European settlement in New Zealand is short by world
standards. Intact built or other remains from the early periods are scarce in
Auckland. Early churches and church related buildings and places are an exception to
this general trend. Later periods are better represented by surviving buildings.
Site surrounds
Site surrounds includes all
land within the title boundary of the place unless otherwise specified, in Appendix 1
of the district plan - isthmus section, as including additional lots, or part(s) of
lots.
Site surrounds includes all those things, such as trees, gardens,
buildings and structures that are part of the heritage significance of the place
and are generally located within the boundary of the place. They may be a part of the original
design or they may have developed in a manner which compliments the place. If
removed, it would detract from the inherent heritage significance and value
of the place.
Why should they be protected?
Our interest in heritage places arises from our natural desire to understand
our cultural origins.
Although written, drawn, and photographic records offer much information, a
sense of real contact with our heritage is most effectively gained only from
being able to see, visit, and where appropriate use, surviving early buildings,
objects, and landforms.
These heritage places are seen as valuable because they have survived into
our time; because they link us to past styles, tastes, customs, techniques,
processes, and associations; and because they represent a resource to be
conserved and passed on to future generations.
Controls that apply
Important Auckland heritage places are listed in
Appendix 1 of
the district plan - isthmus section. Auckland City's goal is to protect and conserve these heritage places on
the isthmus, by using controls in the district plan. The most important heritage places are listed as category A, the remaining items are listed as category B.
Appendix 1 also sets out whether the
interior of a building and/or any part of its surrounds are protected in
addition to the exterior of the building being protected.
The district plan requires that where significant work, in the majority of
cases, is intended to be carried out on a category A or a category B place, a
resource consent application must be made and approved by the council BEFORE the
work is started.
Significant work is work that will have an effect on the qualities for which
the place has been listed. Contact us
for advice and details on such heritage qualities.
We will consider the resource consent application and give its
written consent or refusal. Any consent may be subject to conditions.
Each application for works to a heritage place are assessed on a case to case
basis, and in some cases may be publicly notified. Where an application is
publicly notified, anybody who believes that their interest or values are
affected by the proposed works may lodge a submission to the resource consent
application.
With the introduction of the Resource Management Act 1991, and the Building
Act 1991, it is important to know that a
- Project Information Memorandum (PIM) and/or
- Building consent
does not provide any form of resource consent required for a category A or B
listed place/item. Resource consents must be obtained separately.
It is also important to recognise that a separate but parallel process
(deriving from the Historic Places Act 1993) is operated by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust
(NZHPT). If a heritage place is also listed by the NZHPT, then a separate consent process must be undertaken with that
organisation via their regional office.
Making alterations and additions
 |
Wharema House,
Portland Road, Remuera.
Built in 1887 for Edward, W. Payton
(first director of the
Elam school of fine arts). |
Like any property, heritage places need regular repairs and maintenance.
Sometimes they also need to be modified and updated so that they can be adapted
to new uses, and updated to achieve better standards of safety, comfort and
convenience.
It is always a question of judgement in deciding what alterations and
additions are reasonable and do not seriously detract from the heritage
qualities for which the place has been listed.
Auckland City's first responsibility is towards the protection and
conservation of heritage places.
Understandably, minor or low-impact works are likely to be more acceptable
than major extensive changes.
Discuss your proposal
Any resource consent application to undertake work on a heritage place will
be reviewed for its appropriateness by Auckland City.
However, if you wish to discuss your ideas earlier you may do so without cost
by contacting us - our heritage division
has considerable experience
in the modification of heritage places. You can get practical advice on any design problems which may arise.
You can also get an indication of whether your proposal would be likely to receive a positive
recommendation in the planning report.
Such early discussions are strongly recommended, and may save a considerable
amount of time and money, and avoid design work being undertaken that may later
need to be reversed.
Discussion with New Zealand Historic Places Trust (NZHPT) can also be started at this
early stage if necessary. It is a good idea to have joint meetings with Auckland
City and the NZHPT in situations where the NZHPT have an interest
in the heritage place.
Costs
Auckland City will generally waive normal planning charges and costs when
dealing with scheduled heritage items. However, costs associated with other
planning infringements/reasons for resource consent will be on-charged to the
applicant.
Where a consent is partly required for heritage reasons, and partly
for other planning reasons, the extent of the fee waiver will be assessed on a
pro-rata basis.
Conservation plan
If you wish to make significant alterations or additions to a heritage building,
object, heritage property or place of special value, the council may
require that you first prepare a standard document called a conservation plan
for the item.
A conservation plan begins with a record of the place's history, current
state, and heritage value. This background information is then used to decide what policies and approaches are needed
to preserve the significance of the place in its future use or adaptation.
The format and content of a conservation plan is required to generally follow
that described in the booklet "The Conservation Plan", by James Semple
Kerr, published by the National Trust of New South Wales, 1990. Copies can be
examined or obtained at level 9, Civic service centre, 1 Greys Avenue, Auckland Central.
The conservation plan must be prepared at the outset and submitted to the
council for formal approval prior to any consent application. The approved
document can then be lodged with Auckland City with any resource consent
application for the proposed changes.
Contact us for assistance and
information.
Heritage orders
In infrequent and exceptional cases a legal notice called a heritage order
may be served on a property. This is a most stringent protective measure.
If you
wish to understand the effect of heritage orders in more detail, please contact
us.
