A8.5 - Special areas

Special areas

Projects may affect special areas either physically or by their proximity to such areas. These areas include:

• sites of cultural, spiritual, historic, aesthetic and amenity value including sites with historically, culturally or architecturally significant buildings, or sites of former buildings, and their environs
• archaeological sites, waahi tapu (sacred sites) and other sites of special importance to tangata whenua (people who hold customary authority over a particular area), including places at which significant events took place or are commemorated
• sites of special ecological, botanical, geological, geomorphological, or other scientific values, including rare landforms, either natural or modified, of special scientific or archaeological interest or cultural association. (For special ecological areas refer to appendix A8.6)
• important recreational areas including wilderness areas which derive special value through being little modified by human intervention.

Projects that affect these features either physically or by their proximity shall include consideration of such effects in the evaluation. These considerations will often involve Maori values, which have a special place in New Zealand law and custom.

Sources of information

The principal sources of information on special areas are:

• Regional and District Planning Schemes, which identify areas with special community values under such headings as 'listed buildings', 'identified sites', 'protected trees', and 'protected ecological areas'
• the Department of Conservation, which maintains a database of sites of archaeological and cultural significance
• the Historic Places Trust, which keeps a record of historic sites, including sites with and without legal protection.

There are sites and areas which can only be recognised through local knowledge. Examples are locally important recreational areas.

Waahi tapu are a special group. It may not be possible to readily identify the exact site or locality affected but consultation with those who hold mana whenua (customary authority) in the area will advise on the presence of waahi tapu. For guidance on consultation with tangata whenua refer to the Ministry for the Environment booklet, Consultation with Tangata Whenua, (1991).

Impacts of land transport projects on special areas

The impact of road projects on special areas can be direct, completely or partially destroying the site; or indirect, detracting from the values for which the site is considered special. Examples would include removal of a historic building from its original location and disturbance of waahi tapu.

Assessment of impacts on special areas

The value that a community places on a particular site will be specific to the site. This value can only be determined by experts who have knowledge of the site features. The value may be reflected by legal protection or planning classification, or through writings and traditions of the community and its institutions, but these sources cannot be relied upon alone.

Assessments of the value of special areas shall also include a process of public consultation. It is important to establish the relative importance that people place on different aspects of the project's impact on special sites and features.

Reporting of special areas

Any special areas affected shall be identified, described and, if appropriate, mapped. The expected impacts shall be described and community attitudes to these impacts on special areas shall be reported. The sources of information on special areas shall be indicated.

Where projects have been modified to protect or enhance special areas, the incremental benefits and costs of these measures shall be reported.