What is historic heritage?
The Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA) defines historic heritage as natural or physical resources that help us to understand or appreciate New Zealand's history and cultures. Heritage sites may have archaeological, architectural, cultural, historic, scientific or technological qualities.
Historic heritage includes:
- historic sites, areas and structures, including trees
- archaeological sites
- places of significance to tangata whenua and Māori, including wāhi tapu
- surroundings associated with the natural and physical resources, eg land around a heritage building.
Find out what's protected
Heritage items in Wellington
See the list of heritage items protected under the Wellington City District Plan:
Schedule 1 – Ngā Whare Aronehe | Heritage Buildings
Schedule 2 – Ngā Hanganga Aronehe | Heritage Structures
Schedule 3 – Ngā Wāhi Aronehe | Heritage Areas
Schedule 4 – Ngā Wāhi Mātai Whaipara Tāngata | Scheduled Archaeological Sites
Schedule 6 – Te Hōtaka o Ngā Rākau Rangatira | Notable Trees
Schedule 7 – Ngā Wāhi Tapu o te Māori | Sites and Areas of Significance to Māori
These District Plan schedules are the Council's primary means of identifying and protecting the city's heritage.
Updates to the list of heritage items
Changes to the District Plan heritage schedules can occur through a public (Council) plan change or when a private individual or organisation requests a change. A full review of all buildings, items and areas with heritage protection must occur every 10 years.
To discuss updates to the District Plan please contact the District Plan Team:
Phone: 021 198 7136
Email: district.plan@wcc.govt.nz
Wellington City heritage inventory
The heritage inventory is an online tool you can use to search for detailed information on heritage buildings and objects that appear in the District Plan heritage schedules.
It provides a full range of information, including:
- address and map location
- construction date, general history and subsequent consents / modification
- architects and builders (including over 150 biographies)
- occupation and uses
- contemporary and historic photographs
- original drawings sourced from Wellington City Archives
- heritage listing information and statement of cultural value
Access the heritage inventory
Archaeological sites
Archaeological Sites are places associated with pre-1900 human activity where there may be evidence relating to the history of Aotearoa New Zealand.
The New Zealand Archaeological Association (NZAA) holds a database of all the archaeological sites in the country. This is accessible through our online Property map, under the Layer ‘Archaeological Sites’.
Three archaeological sites are also scheduled in the Wellington City District Plan 2024 due to their regional significance.
All archaeological sites are protected by the Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga Act 2014. It is a requirement of the Act that an Archaeological Authority (consent) is granted if a site may be modified or destroyed.
Contact Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga for:
- information and resources on archaeological sites
- archaeological site protection and the Law, and,
- if you are planning to undertake works that involve disturbance of a site occupied before 1900, as you may need an archaeological authority before works start.
For more information on archaeological research and a consultant directory, visit: New Zealand Archaeological Association.