Looking after our heritage

Selwyn has experienced several waves of settlement by Māori and Europeans over many decades. As a result there are sites, buildings and structures in our district which are of cultural or historic value to individuals, families, iwi, rūnanga and communities.

It’s important we look after all the things and places that are part of our history and identity, and preserve them for current and future generations to enjoy and learn from.

The Proposed District Plan updates the list of heritage buildings and notable trees as well as identifying and including new rules to recognise and protect sites and areas of significance to Māori. Key proposed changes – historic and cultural heritage:

• Updated schedule of listed heritage buildings, structures and items
• A heritage item’s setting will now also be part of the listing, which means erecting buildings and structures, and some earthworks within the setting, will be managed
• Updated schedule of listed notable trees
• Updated criteria to help identify notable trees for listing in the District Plan
• Overall the rules for listed heritage items and notable trees aren’t proposed to change much, other than the requirement to manage some activities in the setting of a heritage item
• The sites and areas of significance to Māori identified in the Proposed District Plan largely reflect those that are identified in the operative District Plan. However, one change is the inclusion of a Ngā Turanga Tūpuna area – covering Te Waihora/Lake Ellesmere, its margins and associated wetlands, along with the coastal area between the Rakaia River and Taumutu
• New rules to recognise and protect sites and areas of significance to Māori. These rules manage a number of activities, eg erecting new buildings or structures, whereas the current District Plan only manages earthworks.

For more about how the Proposed District Plan plans to protect heritage items view the Proposed ePlan. Submissions are open till 5pm Friday 11 December. You can make your submission here.