Hamilton City Council
Te kaunihera o Kirikiriroa
Archaeological sites are defined by the Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga Act 2014 as any place that was associated with human activity that occurred prior to 1900, and through the use of archaeological methods provide evidence relating to New Zealand's heritage.
All archaeological sites, whether recorded or unrecorded, are protected.
Recorded archaeological sites are listed on the New Zealand Archaeological Association (NZAA) website and at the moment only some of these have been scheduled in our District Plan. We want to update this to include all identified archaeological sites in our plan so that landowners are aware of these sites and what it means when looking to develop them.
We've currently got 52 archaeological sites identified in our District Plan, mostly located around our gully network and near the banks of the Waikato River. and we're are proposing to add a further 57 NZAA recorded sites to the district plan.
Click here to see a map that shows where the archaeological sites are that we're proposing be added to our District Plan.
Archaeological sites are identified through the database of known sites managed by the New Zealand Archaeological Association (NZAA) in partnership with Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga and the Department of Conservation.
Through Plan Change 9 we're not proposing any listed archaeological sites be removed. However, we have reassessed the boundaries of these areas to make sure they match those of the NZAA records.
Plan Change 9 is not about finding new archaeological sites. All sites that we're proposing be listed in our District Plan are already listed as archaeological sites by NZAA. We want to include them in our District Plan to make sure landowners are aware that there are both district plan rules and requirements on landowners under the Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Toanga Act, that they must follow.
The below table provides some typical examples of what works would require resource consent and what wouldn't. Noting some of these requirements are already in the District Plan.
| Example: | Requirements: |
| Earthworks on any scheduled archaeological sites for Group 1 and 2 | Consent required |
| Signs on any scheduled archaeological site | Consent required |
| Minor work on all scheduled archaeological sites | No consent required |
If you are unsure whether your work requires a resource consent under the current District Plan, you can always contact our Duty Planner for general planning guidance enquiries. Please contact the duty planner weekdays 8am – 4.45pm Email: planning.guidance@hcc.govt.nz
Under Council's Long-Term Plan, $80,000 per year is available across Hamilton to property owners with either built heritage or a Group 1 Archaeological site on their land that meets the criteria under the Heritage Fund Guidelines.
Find out what this money can be used for, and to apply for the funding.
The archaeological sites identified through the proposed Peacocke Structure Plan will not be impacted by Plan Change 9. However, through Plan Change 9 we're proposing some changes to the District Plan rules relating to both Group 1 and Group 2 archaeological sites and these will apply to all archaeological sites across the city.
We're here to help so if you got any questions, please contact planchange@hcc.govt.nz
Last updated 8 July 2022