Heritage NZ not told of development plans
The Southland District Council failed to notify Heritage New Zealand it had started developing a campsite in an area known as an archaeology site in Southland.
The council’s beleaguered development of the Monkey Island campsite has hit another stumbling block, and all work at the site has been halted since August 23.
The upgrade at Monkey Island, on the coast between Riverton and Tuatapere, will include dedicated areas for camper vehicles and tents, two new toilet blocks, improved drainage and a possible shelter, but not everyone is happy about it, with a petition starting and one public meeting held to date.
Under the Heritage NZ Pouhere Taonga Act, any activity in relation to an archaeology site must apply to Heritage New Zealand for approval, which the council failed to do.
Heritage NZ senior archaeologist Dr Matthew Schmidt said work had already started on the site when council staff identified that they should stop and check the records. It was a standard practice to check the records before starting on the site, Schmidt said.
According to Arcsite there are seven sites of archaeological value in the area, he said. Items were last highlighted at the site in 2006 and five or six years after that but it did not necessarily mean anything would be found from this assessment, he said. Ma¯ori artefacts were common in the area along with midden (historical rubbish sites), although there were not many European artefacts in the area.
A Southland District Council spokesman said ‘‘we failed to ask the right questions when we were scoping the project and we will learn from this. Council is now trying to work through the issues that have subsequently been identified to deliver a project that will provide a facility for all visitors to Monkey Island.’’
The spokesperson said ‘‘the sites that have been identified by Heritage New Zealand are indicative only as they are based on historical information ... Before any alternatives are investigated we will wait for a response from HeritageNZ to our application to continue to work at the site.’’
The council is getting an archaeological assessment, which is expected to take three to four weeks.