February 26, 2020
Otuataua heritage status upgraded
Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga has upgraded the Ōtuataua Stonefields to a Category 1 historic place.
It has also extended the boundaries of the land recognised on the heritage list to include land owned by Fletcher Building.
Chief executive Andrew Coleman says the listing will not alter the status of the Special Housing Area on that land or any existing resource consents.
The land has been occupied by a group who say as one of the oldest sites of human habitation in Aotearoa it should be protected from development.
Mr Coleman says more than 1500 submissions were received, an unprecedented number, with overwhelming support for the redesignation.
There were also submissions for and against extending the boundary.
Even with the upgrade, protection for the site will only come through its status being change on council district plans.
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