Archaeological locations, buffers, areas and waahi tapu sites within the Gisborne district as identified in the Tairawhiti Resource Management Plan.
Gisborne district has a wealth of heritage both pre and post European contact. This resource provides an identity unique to the people of the Gisborne district and should be recognised and protected. The management of our heritage implies a duty of care and responsibility to pass it on to future generations with the least possible loss. The cultural heritage resource consists of the following:
• Archaeological sites (pre and post European contact).
• Waahi tapu and waahi tapu areas (pre and post European contact).
• Heritage buildings, places and precincts (post European contact).
The tools for recognition and protection of cultural heritage are primarily:
• a predictive model of human settlement (a heritage alert overlay), accompanied by:
• a schedule of archaeological sites obtained from a variety of sources including: o Heritage New Zealand Register of Archaeological Sites. o New Zealand Archaeological Association (NZAA) database of recorded archaeological sites and from information obtained from privately commissioned archaeological surveys.
• a waahi tapu and waahi tapu area schedule; and • a schedule of post European contact historic areas, places and precincts including a Central Business District Schedule.
There is a responsibility to record the past for the benefit of future generations. It cannot be achieved alone but should be a community effort with particular emphasis placed on finding the balance between legitimate use of land by landowners and the protection and enhancement of the community heritage resource. The benefits can be considerable and long term particularly in respect of education, cultural and spiritual stability, social well-being, community identity and the efficient use of resources. Cultural heritage (issues, objectives, policies) are also discussed in the RPS, Part B7 which should be referred to in conjunction with this section
