Chapter 6 - Tangata Whenua and Heritage In addition, the heritage resources of the Marlborough Sounds are becoming increasingly important as tourism grows, bringing with it the advantage of commercial support for enhancement of the historical environment. The Historic Places Act 1993 gives the New Zealand Historic Places Trust the authority to register (and protect) heritage resources. Their activities, however, are limited to protecting those places which are significant on a national basis. Many of the items or places which contribute to the heritage of the Plan area are of local importance rather than national significance. It is often these resources which face the greatest threat from modification or destruction. This is largely due to the difficulties associated with identifying the particular resources which contribute to the heritage and character of the Sounds. But also, difficulties arise with determining the most appropriate means of protection, for example regulatory or incentive approaches. Information on the nature and location of archaeological sites in the Plan area is limited. While a large number of sites have been recorded in the Plan area, the coverage is by no means complete. This is obviously an ongoing process. The Council and the community need to be able to assess heritage resources, indicate their importance and afford them different levels of protection. Heritage resources need to be reassessed from time to time so that as time passes new items can be protected and older or scarcer items can be given more protection. Heritage resources are often fragile and may be adversely affected by activities, development or lack of care and maintenance. The challenge is to manage change, recognising the need to allow communities to alter and grow, while ensuring that significant heritage resources are retained for both present and future generations. 6.2.1 Issue Retaining a sense of the cultural heritage that contributes to the character of the sounds. In managing the use and development of the natural and physical resources, regard must be given to the cultural heritage resources and values which contribute to the character of the Sounds. To give effect to this obligation the Plan must: a) Identify those heritage resources which contribute to the character of the Sounds and therefore need to be retained; and b) Adopt suitable measures to secure the preservation of the identified heritage resources. The Council, along with the community, has the responsibility to ensure that heritage resources are protected and retained for future generations. The New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement refines the Council’s heritage role in respect of the coastal environment. Heritage values are referred to in the general principles section of the New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement and again at section 3.1.2. Section 3.1.2 requires the identification of, and that appropriate protection be given to historic areas and areas of cultural significance. 6 - 5