Tizard Judith: Historic Places Amendment Bill — First Reading 
Tizard Judith: Historic Places Amendment Bill — First Reading 
[Volume:620;Page:15561] 
Hon JUDITH TIZARD (Associate Minister for Arts Culture and Heritage) 
: 
 I move  
That the Historic Places Amendment Bill be now read a first time. 
 This bill amends the Historic Places Act of 1993. The Historic Places Trust was established in 1954 and is governed by a board of trustees. Its Maori Heritage Council has particular responsibilities for Maori heritage. The trust is charged with a range of functions and powers under the Act. That is in keeping with its purpose to promote the identification protection preservation and conservation of historical and cultural heritage in New Zealand. The Historic Places Trust compiles and maintains a register of places of historical and cultural heritage. It protects archaeological sites and it educates and informs New Zealanders about the ways in which their historic heritage can be preserved. It also owns and manages a range of heritage properties. 
The trust works with individuals and organisations that have an active interest in the integrity of heritage places in New Zealand. The trust has important responsibilities under the Resource Management Act whereby it works with local authorities to promote the preservation of heritage places within their areas. That role has taken on greater significance since amendments to the Resource Management Act were passed in 2003. Those amendments made historic heritage protection a matter of national importance that local authorities must recognise and provide for in the exercise of their functions and powers. 
It is not proposed to review the purpose or role of the trust or its regulatory responsibilities in this bill. The amendments to this bill will strengthen the New Zealand Historic Places Trust’s governance arrangements by reducing the size of its board and increasing the number of Government appointees. The amendments will also enhance the trust’s accountability to the Government by designating it as a Crown entity providing for greater public involvement in the process of registering historic heritage and clarifying some sections of the Act that are unclear or difficult to administer. Reducing the number of board members will create a more cohesive and decisive group and align it with statutory organisations of a similar size. Increasing the number of Crown appointees to the board will more adequately reflect the Government’s interest in the trust. It is expected that the overall effect will be to ensure a greater range of skills and experience in the make-up of the board and to enhance its ability to fulfil its core functions. 
The proposed redefinition of the New Zealand Historic Places Trust as a Crown entity will enhance its accountability to the Government. The detailed amendments required to effect that change have been included in the Public Finance (State Sector Management) Bill that was introduced earlier this year. That amendment is particularly important given the increasing proportion of the trust funding that is now provided by the Government. 
This Government is taking its obligations to the culture and heritage sectors very seriously and has backed its commitment with a significant programme of funding and legislation. For the trust this means that baseline funding has increased and will increase over successive years from $4.5 million GST inclusive in 2002-03 to $7.5 million GST inclusive in 2005-06. In addition the Government has established the National Heritage Preservation Incentive Fund which is to be administered by the trust to encourage the preservation of privately owned and nationally significant heritage properties that would otherwise be in danger of neglect or demolition. An additional annual sum of $563000 GST inclusive has been appropriated to that fund. 
Other changes proposed in the bill will clarify meanings. For example the term “historic place” will include all structures and a group of associated buildings such as a house and its outbuildings. The amendments will also reinforce the registration process so that it is consistent across all four parts of the historic places register which include historic places historic areas wahi tapu places and wahi tapu areas. It will also provide for greater public involvement in the registration process through public notification of all proposed registrations and provision for submissions on all proposals that are being considered by the trust when making decisions on registration. 
So in summary the protection of our historic places requires a strong and effective heritage agency at the national level—an agency with an overview of historic heritage management issues. The New Zealand Historic Places Trust does a most valuable job in fulfilling its responsibilities as defined by the legislation at present. I thank the chair of the trust Dame Anne Salmond and the trust board members and the Maori Heritage Council members as well as the staff of the trust for the enormous effort they make to do the job required by New Zealand’s heritage needs and by the legislation. 
The Government recognises the significance of the existing heritage legislation and its infrastructure. It is also very aware of the need for robust mechanisms that will protect and manage New Zealand’s heritage for the benefit of the present and for future generations. In reviewing and amending the Historic Places Act the Government is looking to strengthen what is already in place and give them the tools they need to do the job even better. I intend to move at the end of this debate that the bill be referred to the Government Administration Committee for its consideration.