W H a K a T a N E B U I L T H E R I T a G E S T U D Y P a R T
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W H A K A T A N E B U I L T HERITAGE S T U D Y P A R T O N E P R E P A R E D F O R W H A K A T A N E D I S T R I C T C O U N C I L NEW ZEALAND HISTORIC PLACES TRUST E N V I R O N M E N T BAY OF PLENTY B Y MATTHEWS & MATTHEWS ARCHITECTS LTD I N A S S O C I A T I O N W I T H L Y N W I L L I A M S , S H I R L E Y A R A B I N R.A SKIDMORE & ASSOCIATES I S S U E 3 , N O V E M B E R 2 0 0 7 W H A K A T A N E BUILT HERITAGE STUDY WHAKATANE BUILT HERITAGE S T U D Y P A R T O N E P R E P A R E D F O R WHAKATANE DISTRICT COUNCIL NEW ZEALAND HISTORIC PLACES TRUST ENVIRONMENT BAY OF PLENTY B Y MATTHEWS & MATTHEWS ARCHITECTS LTD I N A S S O C I A T I O N W I T H L Y N W I L L I A M S , S H I R L E Y A R A B I N R.A SKIDMORE & ASSOCIATES I S S U E 3 N O V E M B E R 2 0 0 7 C O N T E N T S P A G E i W H A K A T A N E BUILT HERITAGE STUDY CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................................................................................................ i 1.0 INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................................................. 1 1.1 PROJECT TEAM ................................................................................................................................. 1 1.2 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS..................................................................................................................... 2 1.3 BRIEF AND PROJECT OBJECTIVES.................................................................................................. 2 1.4 THE STUDY AREA .............................................................................................................................. 2 2.0 THEMATIC HISTORY AN OVERVIEW OF THE HISTORY OF WHAKATANE.................................... 4 2.1 HISTORIC CONTEXT AND KEY THEMES ........................................................................................... 4 2.2 ENVIRONMENT................................................................................................................................... 6 2.3 WHAKATANE PEOPLES AND THEIR INTERACTIONS ....................................................................... 9 2.4 GOVERNANCE, ADMINISTRATION AND LAND OWNERSHIP.......................................................... 17 2.5 BUILDING A NEW SETTLEMENT ...................................................................................................... 20 2.6 CREATING AN INFRASTRUCTURE.................................................................................................. 23 2.7 PROVIDING TRANSPORT AND ACCESS ......................................................................................... 27 2.8 WORKING INDUSTRY AND COMMERCE ....................................................................................... 30 2.9 DEVELOPING CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS AND WAYS OF LIFE....................................................... 37 3.0 IDENTIFICATION AND ASSESSMENT OF BUILT HERITAGE IN WHAKATANE............................... 43 3.1 METHODOLOGY............................................................................................................................... 43 3.2 SUMMARY STATEMENT OF HERITAGE SIGNIFICANCE WHAKATANE CENTRE .......................... 46 3.3 IDENTIFYING GAPS IN THE SCHEDULE (BUILT HERITAGE).......................................................... 54 4.0 REVIEW OF EXISTING PLANNING FRAMEWORK........................................................................... 59 4.1 EXISTING PLANNING FRAMEWORK OPERATIVE BAY OF PLENTY REGIONAL POLICY STATEMENT ..................................................................................................................................... 59 5.0 ECONOMIC IMPLICATIONS OF IDENTIFYING PLACES AS BEING OF HERITAGE VALUE............ 64 6.0 MANAGEMENT OF HERITAGE RESOURCES.................................................................................. 74 6.1 OPTIONS TO ENHANCE HERITAGE RECOGNITION AND PROTECTION....................................... 75 7.0 RECOMMENDATIONS ...................................................................................................................... 79 7.1 RECOMMENDATIONS TO ENHANCE/ STRENGTHEN EXISTING DISTRICT PLAN PROVISIONS RELATED TO HERITAGE.................................................................................................................. 79 7.2 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR NEW DISTRICT PLAN OPTIONS TO ENHANCE THE RECOGNITION AND PROTECTION OF HERITAGE RESOURCES............................................................................ 81 7.3 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR NON STATUTORY TECHNIQUES TO ENCOURAGE THE RETENTION AND CARE OF HERITAGE RESOURCES.................................................................... 84 7.4 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ONGOING RESEARCH AND ASSESSMENT....................................... 85 8.0 APPENDIX 1...................................................................................................................................... 88 C O N T E N T S P A G E i i W H A K A T A N E BUILT HERITAGE STUDY EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The aim of the Whakatane Area Built Heritage Study is to carry out a comprehensive review of built heritage, and to use this information to look at the ongoing management of heritage resources from a base of understanding and knowledge. The study has involved broad research into the main historic themes which have shaped development in central Whakatane so that individual places can be understood in context. It has also involved gathering information about a wide range of buildings and structures, from a range of periods in the central area. This preliminary research helped to identify important historic associations or values that needed to be investigated more fully. There are aspects of central Whakatane’s built environment which are typical of many New Zealand provincial centres and other elements that are unique. The key themes which have been significant to Whakatane’s historic development include: preEuropean settlement and cultural heritage, establishment, growth and development of the township, development of local and central government agencies and the extensive development of farming in the surrounding area. These themes are associated with the places that are unique or distinctive aspects of Whakatane. There is little current recognition of heritage buildings and structures in the district plan or by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust. No buildings within the study area are scheduled or registered. The district plan schedule was established in the 1980s and may have been periodically added to but has not been comprehensively reviewed since. Very little historic research is held by council in relation to those places which are scheduled. Whakatane’s central area is diverse and it is interesting because of this. Its built form demonstrates development from a range of periods, and provides evidence of important associations with people over time, and its historic pattern of development. Whakatane's surviving historic buildings and places are a primary asset of the central area and are a finite resource. There is an opportunity to expand the understanding and information available about other significant places and important historic themes in the central area and to celebrate a broader range of places. Many of the places which have been researched as part of this study may already valued by the community and users because of their historic character. The ongoing retention and sympathetic reuse of a range of places adds to the authentic qualities of the centre. Research about Whakatane’s built heritage has provided a wonderful resource that will help in understanding what is there, what is special about it, and hopefully promoting that to the community, building owners and tourists. As a result of the study options for statutory and nonstatutory methods to enhance the ongoing management of the collective values of heritage resources and future development in central Whakatane are put forward. The Whakatane Built Heritage Study report has two parts. Part One includes the thematic historic overview, a summary of cultural heritage values associated with the town centre as a whole and a review of management of heritage resources. It also proposes options for enhancing heritage management through statutory and nonstatutory methods. Lastly the appendices contain supporting information. Part Two contains an inventory of heritage places within the central study area which have been researched and assessed using heritage criteria from the Bay of Plenty Regional Policy Statement. This is supported by record forms for those places which have been researched in detail, as part of this Study and by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust. Partial record forms have been prepared for a large number of additional places to collate base information that was gathered during the study. There is no doubt that the history of Whakatane is represented in its built heritage. The way this is managed in the future will affect the authenticity, character and urban qualities of the central area. There is an opportunity to develop a vision for Whakatane’s built heritage that retains links with its past and sustains and enhances this for future generations while allowing for appropriate development and growth. P A G E i W H A K A T A N E B U I L T HERITAGE STUDY 1.0 INTRODUCTION The Whakatane Built Heritage Study is a joint initiative of Environment Bay of Plenty, Whakatane District Council and the New