Trust to close historic local committee

Nathan Crombie | 3rd February 2010

Proposed changes to the New Zealand Historic Places Trust will axe a Wairarapa branch committee founded more than 50 years ago.

Preliminary findings of the 2009 review of the New Zealand Historic Places Act propose dissolving the 24 branch committees now operating throughout the country "to help focus (the trust) on its significant regulatory responsibilities", according to Arts Culture and Heritage Minister Christopher Finlayson.

The Historic Places Act 1993 makes it unlawful for any person to destroy, damage or modify an archaeological site without the prior authority of the trust, which has the power to prosecute when the act is breached.

The trust receives up to 80 percent of its funding from government and has been a Crown entity since 2005.

The Wairarapa branch committee of the trust was established in 1957, the same year the national body was founded, according to Wairarapa archivist Gareth Winter.

He said the first branch executive comprised J.F Thompson as chairman and Kuini Te Tau as vice chairman.

Masterton Mayor Garry Daniell, the immediate past Wairarapa branch chairman, said the regional group went into recess in June 2008 after unsuccessfully battling to keep the former Tinui Hotel at its original site in the small Wairarapa settlement.

He said at that time there were up to 350 paid Wairarapa members of the branch operating under a committee with 14 members with about $12,000 in finances.

"One reason for the proposal could be to scoop up some of the funds - some of the branch committess, including Wairarapa, were and are quite financial."

Mr Daniell said the funds formerly held by thw Wairarapa branch have been earmarked for use within the region although Mr Daniell said another important concern is that advocacy on the ground carry on at branch level.

The trust now has about 23,000 subscriber members who contribute around 5 percent of its funding, according to the organisations' website.  

"The proposal to disestablish branch committees could result in stronger heritage advocacy in local communities, as there may be opportunities for current branch committees to join with and strengthen other local heritage organisations, or to establish new ones where they see a need," the website posting continues.

Letters have been sent to all members and branch committee chairs advising them of the proposed changes, and meetings will be held with committees across the country to discuss and present the changes.

The ministry over coming months is to discuss with branch committees "ways in which new arrangements might be put in place for local heritage advocacy" with meeting outcomes to be posted on the trust website at www.historic.org.nz.