Nelson City Council

When the strategy was adopted in November 2006, the Heritage Strategy Implementation Group was set up to monitor the progress of implementing the Whakatu Nelson Heritage strategy's action plan.

Current membership

• Chair- Sarah Holman who is also the chair of Nelson Heritage Advisory Group
• Lyn Cadenhead or other nominated representative from Nelson Heritage Advisory Group
• David Watts or Ann Neil : Historic Places Trust( national)
• Elizabeth MacCreadie or current chair of Historic Places Trust ( local branch)
• Peter Millward: The Nelson Provincial Museum for Tasman Bays Heritage Trust
• Julie Catchpole: The Suter
• Grahame Anderson: Institute of Architects, historian
• Nelson Tasman Tourism
• Steve Bagley : Department of Conservation
• Iwi representaives- currently Chris Hemi of Ngati Kuia attends- though other iwi are welcome to attend
• Nelson City Council staff- Nelson City Council Arts /heritage advisor; Nelson City Council policy advisor, administration advisor

Layers and sense of place

'Heritage is important because it is all about the layers and fabric that create our communities over time. It's about the traditions and sense of place that shapes our local and national identity. Special heritage needs to be identified, protected, nurtured and managed, and we all have a role to play.'
~ Anne Rush, Artist and Chair, Nelson Heritage Advisory

Progress of the strategy

An overview of the 2006 action plan was done in the 2007/2008 financial year of progress made by December 2007 and presented publicly at a Nelson Heritage Advisory Group meeting. A public presentation is made annually at a Nelson Heritage Advisory Group meeting or some other suitable public forum.

Progress has been made in a number of key areas

Objective 1 - Identification

Prepare a list of heritage resources not currently protected, update inventories where required.

As part of the 08/09 Annual Plan process Environmental Policy was given a budget of $75,000 for a heritage inventory project for each of the 08/09 and 09/10 financial years. Improvements in the listing process will be done, such as looking at items in a more site specific way. Some items already listed may be reviewed. A scoping document working out how to capture items missing from council's inventory, such as modern heritage will be completed by March 2009 and work commenced.

Establish web based system for recording, storing and retrieving public oral history.

Library led web based history project "The Prow - Ngā Kōrero o Te Tau Ihu - Stories from the Top of the South" launched in Feb 2009.

The site is a collaborative venture between Nelson City Libraries, Tasman District Libraries, Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology, Nelson Provincial Museum and Marlborough District Libraries. The project is led by the Nelson Public Libraries and managed by a taskforce group from the project partners. It is funded by the Government's Digital Strategy Community Partnership Fund and the participating organisations.

Visit The Prow - Ngā Kōrero o Te Tau Ihu - Stories from the Top of the South website

Objective 2 - Protection, Conservation and Maintenance

Provide the appropriate level of protection for heritage resources not currently protected through plan changes, review of design guides, and non-regulatory methods.

The Central City Strategy (in draft and out for public consultation November 2008) is another area where public views about management of streetscape have been aired. It is expected submissions will be received about urban design guidelines for the protection of heritage values, clarification about creation of heritage precincts and protection of key streetscapes when new buildings are planned for sites within significant heritage zones.

An updated Collection policy for Founders Heritage Park has been adopted October 2008.Assessing the extent and condition of the collection is underway. The Broadgreen Historic House collection will check in the same way and information stored along with information about other Council assets in compatible electronic format.

Storage of heritage items remains an issue and possibilities for purpose built shared storage for the city's and region's collections have been proposed as ideas for inclusion in the LTCCP.

Investigate gaps in heritage protection e.g. townscapes/urban archaeology/recent heritage and programme in additional protection where required.

Historic Places Trust are currently supporting a Boulder Bank survey project.

Explicitly recognise and provide for heritage management and relevant operational documents e.g. asset management plans.

A number of updates in Council management plans are scheduled which cover maintenance of Council owned heritage assets. Updates include the Parks & Reserves Activity Management plan (scheduled to be completed December 08); The Conservation and Landscape reserves management plan, the Culture Heritage and Arts Facilities Asset Management plan ( planned 2010/11).

A Conservation plans for Rocks Rd chain fence is being investigated in the 08/09 year.

To continue to work with Tangata Whenua and NZHPT where activities threaten archaeological sites.

Historic Places Trust have made recommendations for the Council's Conservation and Landscape reserves management plan.

Increase the level of planning and financial incentives by providing:

A Heritage Incentive Fund

The $35,000 Heritage Incentive Fund continues to support heritage restoration projects. Find out more about grants to preserve our heritage.

Rates Relief for heritage properties

In 07/08 year $43,000 of rates relief went to 174 heritage buildings.

Resource consent fees assistance

The Council introduced zero fees for non-notified resource consent applications to conserve and restore heritage buildings, places or objects. In 07/08 year $4000 was allocated for this purpose. To date there have been no applications requiring this waiver.

To advocate nationally for financial support for major heritage projects.

Nelson Heritage Advisory Group now have charitable status and can apply for funds for partnership projects. They are happy to consider projects and help/encourage applicants to apply for funding from a wide range of sources.

Objective 3 - Interpretation

Prepare an Action Plan for the co-ordinated interpretation for Whakatu Nelson's Heritage.

Council's Annual Plan allocated funding of $50,000 for 08/09 to assist with the implementation of the strategy. The funds were specifically to assist with heritage information in panels, signs, trails and heritage awareness projects.

Projects in progress and planned for 08/09 include:

• Revamp of Trevor Horne Trail
• Redesign of 2 heritage panels by Cathedral for 150^th celebrations; assistance with celebrations (event, displays)
• Maori heritage project- Develop with Iwi two Pikimai Panels
• Replacement of damaged Broadgreen, Fountain Place Panels
• Stage One Shoreline project-investigation of brass plaques for footpaths
• Design Way finding panels- investigate placing in hubs such as Anzac Park and by bus stops.
• Investigation of RSA/ANZAC remembrance trail, a cathedral tour trail, a "historic tree" walk, cemetery walk, Steps and Stories walk
• New information panel to support tree walk
• Possible input around Trafalgar centre upgrade to link to Matangi Awhio
• Possible assistance with a conservation plan for Rocks Rd chain

Objective 4 - Promotion

Incorporate heritage events into the EDA Events Strategy.

All festivals and events are targeted where possible to include items that link with Nelsons heritage.

Prepare an Action Plan for the co-ordinated promotion of Whakatu Nelson's Heritage including heritage trails, a Heritage Week, and heritage awards.

See ideas above in 3. Heritage trails/ information have been included into the Nelson Regional Guide Book launched October 08.

Heritage awards are being investigated.

The Antiques & Retro Extravaganza continues to grow and may in future be further developed from a weekend into a Heritage Week. permits.

Facilitate and broker supplies of professional heritage services and heritage supplies.

Heritage information on Council's Website has been updated and improved.

An improved FOUND database launched in December 08 has a better heritage search category.

Objective 5

To clarify roles and responsibilities of Whakatu Nelson's heritage agencies and groups and for them to cooperate in implementing this heritage strategy.

Three yearly reviews are required of the strategy and a report on progress was presented to the group in 2008. Future reviews will measure the Strategy implementation against criteria such as the annual ratepayers survey, feedback from heritage agencies, owners and professionals and the amount of funding secured for heritage conservation projects.

Find out more

For more information on heritage in Nelson contact the
Arts & Heritage Team Leader, Debbie Daniell-Smith
Phone 03 546 0331
Email Nelson City Council