General Policies for Council Administered Reserves 2006

You are here > Home > Council Documents > Policies > General Policies for Council Administered Reserves 2006 > Section 2.4

Section 2.4

General Policies For Council Administered Reserves 2006 | Section 1 | Section 2.1 and 2.2 | Section 2.3 | Section 2.5 | Section 3. Glossary | Section 4. Appendices

• 2.4.1 Conservation of cultural heritage values
• 2.4.2 Conservation of natural values
• 2.4.3 Fire control
• 2.4.4 Maintenance of reserve facilities
• 2.4.5 Litter and waste management

2.4 Maintenance of reserves and reserve assets

2.4.1 Conservation of cultural heritage values

Comment/Explanation
A number of reserves in New Plymouth District contain known areas of heritage and cultural significance. ‘Heritage’ encompasses both natural and built features and includes trees, buildings, places and objects of Maori and European origin. These features provide communities with important linkages to the past and an insight into the way their communities have been shaped.

There is known to be a high density of waahi tapu sites in the Taranaki area. In particular, coastal areas were heavily used with settlement and food gathering areas all along the coastline.

The disruption of the early period of European settlement, including the land wars and associated confiscation and reallocation of rohe, resulted in some of the history of the location and purpose of waahi tapu being lost. For this reason, the policies shown below address both known and recorded waahi tapu sites as well as those that are unearthed during the course of development.

Waahi tapu hold a special significance to mana whenua. The policies in this section have been designed to respect the interests of mana whenua regarding the sharing of information about their waahi tapu sites.

The following are statutory mechanisms to protect sites of cultural and heritage value:

• The New Plymouth District Plan maps and schedules heritage buildings and items and some, but not all, waahi tapu sites. The District Plan specifies rules to control development and land disturbance on and in the immediate vicinity of these sites. District Plan rules apply equally within and outside of reserves.
• All artefacts found after 1 April 1975 are protected under the Antiquities Act 1975. The Act defines an artefact as “any chattel, carving, object or thing which relates to the history, art, culture, traditions, or economy of the Maori or other pre-European inhabitants of New Zealand and which was or appears to have been manufactured or modified in New Zealand by any such inhabitant or brought to New Zealand by an ancestor or any such inhabitant or used by any such inhabitant, prior to 1902.”
• Each Maori artefact is registered onto a national database and custody is determined by the Ministry of Culture and Heritage in consultation with the relevant iwi/hapu and the local museum. A new piece of legislation is currently under discussion in Parliament which will replace the current Act and will strengthen iwi/hapu rights in custody decisions.
• The Historic Places Act 1993 was developed to “promote the identification, protection, preservation, and conservation of the historical and cultural heritage of New Zealand.” The Act addresses the protection of historic places and areas of both Maori and non-Maori origin.
• An "archaeological site" under section 2 of the Historic Places Act 1993 is described as “any place associated with human activity before 1900, which may, through investigation by archaeological methods, provide evidence relating to the history of New Zealand.” An authority from the Historic Places Trust is required to destroy, damage or modify any archaeological site. The Act also provides for covenants to be placed on sites and areas of historical significance.

Objective
To ensure that areas of Maori and non-Maori cultural heritage value are identified and accorded an appropriate level of protection.
To provide a means of protecting both recorded and unrecorded sites having cultural heritage value.
To respect the special significance of waahi tapu and other sites or areas of cultural heritage value.

Policies

1. As far as practicable, identified areas of cultural heritage value on reserves will be protected, preserved or maintained as appropriate.
2. Mana whenua will be consulted prior to any decision regarding a significant development2 on a reserve.
3. In the event that any of the following apply, an archaeological assessment will be undertaken prior to the approval of proposed works. The identification of waahi tapu may be in open or silent files, as per information management protocols developed between tangata whenua and the council.
   • Waahi tapu are identified on an Iwi Management Plan that has been lodged with the council.
   • A waahi tapu site is identified on the District Plan.
   • An archaeological site is recorded in the NZ Archaeological Association (NZAA) Site Recording Scheme.
   • A historic place, historic area, waahi tapu site or waahi tapu area is recorded in the New Zealand Historic Places Trust register, and/or
   • The area is identified by the NZ Archaeological Association or the New Zealand Historic Places Trust as having a high likelihood of finding archaeological sites.
4. If, on or adjacent to a proposed development site, an archaeological assessment reveals an archaeological site, the Historic Places Trust and tangata whenua will be notified and a decision made, through direct dialogue between the council, mana whenua, the Historic Places Trust and other affected parties as to how to proceed. Each incidence will be decided on a case by case basis according to criteria (still to be developed through discussion with tangata whenua) regarding the type of site, its cultural heritage significance and any other considerations brought forward by mana whenua.
   
   A “significant development” is any activity on a reserve that result in machine earthworks and/ or construction of buildings or other sizable structures, removal of trees or large areas of vegetation, or shifting of sand or other materials to or from a site.
   
5. If, during the course of a development, any artefact or other indication of an archaeological site is revealed, the works will stop immediately. The Historic Places Trust will be notified and a decision made through direct dialogue between the council, the Historic Places Trust, mana whenua, and other affected parties as to how to proceed.
6. The council will undertake an assessment of effects on heritage buildings, structures and sites of non-Maori origin prior to modification or removal and a decision made regarding how to proceed in consultation with any affected parties. For the purposes of this policy, an affected party includes any individual or organisation with a historic connection to, or interest in the site of concern. The New Zealand Historic Places Trust will be invited to peer review all assessments and will be considered an affected party for the purposes of consultation on consent applications, particularly with regard to NZHPT-registered historic places.
7. The council will work with individual iwi/hapu to develop a protocol regarding the management of vegetation on waahi tapu sites.
8. Information will be provided during staff and councillor orientation exercises to increase the awareness within the council of issues associated with maintaining cultural heritage values (Maori and non-Maori).
9. The council will consider requests for educational signage related to cultural heritage sites on a case-by-case basis and in consultation with the relevant mana whenua or community.Return to top

2.4.2 Conservation of natural values

Comment/Explanation
One of the general purposes of reserves is to conserve indigenous flora and fauna, both rare and commonplace, in their natural communities and habitats.

Objectives
To maintain and enhance the ecological values within reserves.
To foster awareness of local ecological values within reserves.

Policies

1. Reserves will be planned and managed to avoid, minimise or mitigate damage to ecological values as a result of public access and use.
2. Areas of significant conservation value will be mapped and noted within reserve management plans.
3. Ecological landscape characteristics within mapped areas of significant conservation value, such as wetland/lagoons, bush remnants and the habitats of fauna will be protected and maintained and where necessary, restored. Where possible, areas of vegetation will be maintained to provide continuous areas of habitat and/or linkages between habitats.
4. Planting of berry and nectar producing plants will be considered for inclusion in reserve planting in order to encourage indigenous species of fauna.
5. Important wildlife habitats in reserves will be managed to ensure that habitat values are protected from adverse impacts associated with public uses and activities as well as any development or maintenance works.
6. Plant and animal pests will be controlled with priority on those that have the potential to compromise the integrity of a reserve.

Other relevant policies and bylaws

• District Tree Policy (February 2006)

Return to top

2.4.3 Fire control

Comment/Explanation
This section details the measures that the council will undertake to minimise the risk of fires starting in or adjacent to a reserve and to minimise damage to the reserve should a fire start.

Objectives
To provide adequate vehicular access to enable fire appliances and other emergency vehicles access to reserves, to the extent possible within existing resources.
To take steps to minimise fire risk and damage resulting from any fire occurring.
To co-operate with appropriate organisations in the prevention and control of fires on reserves.

Policies

1. No person at any time shall set fire within any reserve, except in accordance with the council’s consolidated bylaw.
2. The council will take all reasonable measures to ensure the reserve is kept clear of all fire hazards that may pose a fire risk to the reserve, reserve users or reserve neighbours, in accordance with legislation or bylaw requirements.
3. The council will liaise, support, assist and cooperate with the appropriate fire authority to provide for the prevention, detection, control and suppression of fire within the reserve, in accordance with relevant legislation or bylaws.
4. In times of fire danger, the council may consider closure of a reserve as appropriate and in accordance with the Reserves Act.

Other relevant policies and bylaws

• NPDC Consolidated Bylaws 2000: Fire Prevention (Part 6)Return to top

2.4.4 Maintenance of reserve facilities

Comment/Explanation
Facilities on reserves contribute to reserve amenity and should be maintained to an appropriate level of hygiene, safety and condition. Reserve facilities include buildings, toilets, seating, rubbish bins, lighting systems, and sports related structures (tracks, pitches, signage etc) consistent with levels of service set out in the Parks Asset Management Plan.

Maintenance of these facilities is made easier if the facilities are designed in such a way as to deter or be resilient to vandalism.

Objective
To ensure that all reserve facilities are provided and maintained to a standard that meets public safety requirements and amenity values of reserves.

Policies

1. Design, materials and location of reserve facilities should minimise the potential for deterioration and vandalism and shall be appropriate for the needs of the community.
2. A regular inspection programme will be performed so that facilities on reserves meet standards of safety, health and condition according to levels of service in the parks asset management plan.
3. The council will maintain council owned facilities and individual clubs and associations will be responsible for the maintenance of their facilities to council standards and as set out in lease conditions.
4. The council will maintain all public toilets on reserves in a clean and hygienic state in keeping with levels of service in the parks asset management plan.

Other relevant policies and bylaws

• NPDC Consolidated Bylaws 2000: Public Places (Part 9)

Return to top

2.4.5 Litter and waste management

Comment/Explanation
The dumping of waste on reserves or the inappropriate use of existing waste disposal facilities can detract from reserve values and the proper functioning of reserves.

The council has a waste management plan that makes provision for the collection and reduction, reuse, recycling, recovery, treatment or disposal of waste in the district.

Objective
To preserve reserve values through appropriate collection and disposal of litter and waste.

Policies

1. Litter and waste will be removed from reserves before their accumulation becomes significantly detrimental to the environment.
2. The council will provide and regularly empty litter and waste facilities in reserves that are frequented by the public (as per levels of service in the parks asset management plan).
3. The disposal and collection of litter and waste will be in accordance with the council's current waste management plan.
4. If there are no waste disposal facilities within a reserve, reserve users are required to remove all of their waste from the reserve.
5. No person shall deposit any domestic refuse, trade waste, garden refuse, rubble or other debris on a reserve.
6. Where a reserve is booked and used for a special event, the event organisers are responsible for the collection and disposal of their waste at their own cost.
7. Council will take legal action against persons shown to be guilty of dumping waste materials (including rubbish and garden waste) on reserves.
8. Council will undertake public education campaigns to encourage reserve users to stop littering.

Other relevant policies and bylaws

• NPDC Consolidated Bylaws 2000: Public Places (Part 9)
• NPDC Consolidated Bylaws 2000: Solid Waste (Part 17)

Return to top