Dunedin is a city that treasures its heritage as a living inheritance from its past and a legacy for future generations.
Dunedin is a city where its townscape character is dependent to a significant degree on its irreplaceable historic buildings and cultural heritage places, which creates a heritage wealth that is a key contributor to the city’s continued economic prosperity.
Dunedin is a city that recognises the high value of this heritage resource and seeks to encourage its continuing use in sustainable ways, in expectation of maintaining Dunedin as New Zealand’s premier heritage destination.
Assessing Heritage Values – The Heritage Schedule
While there are currently 784 heritage buildings, 50 heritage structures and 18 heritage sites included for protection in Appendix A1.1 Schedule of Protected Heritage Items and Sites of the partially operative Dunedin City Second Generation District Plan (2024) (known as the ‘2GP’), there is a growing appreciation that this list is not fully representative of the city's heritage.
Acknowledging this, the 2GP recognises a new category of heritage protection through the introduction of character-contributing buildings located within nineteen heritage precincts (formerly heritage or townscape precincts). These heritage buildings (currently 925) are deemed to make a positive contribution to the heritage streetscape character of their relevant heritage precinct – whether residential or commercial.
While the city's Edwardian and Victorian heritage is strongly represented on the schedules, as are its iconic buildings, it is acknowledged that the list should better recognise the breadth of the city's heritage places. It is important to remember that it is not only buildings that make up the city's unique character. Open spaces, parks and monuments, cemeteries, streetscapes, roads, lanes, stairways and courtyards all contribute to the feel and character of the city, and can be as valuable as the buildings themselves.
Future reviews of the Heritage Schedule will look as addressing less-represented aspects of Dunedin’s heritage. If you wish for a heritage place to be considered for future recognition on the District Plan, then please get in touch with the DCC Heritage Advisor on 03 477 4000 or email: heritage@dcc.govt.nz.
Heritage and Development
Dunedin's heritage buildings and places have helped to define our communities over the years, and they continue to shape the way we see and present ourselves into the future. However, heritage is not about being stuck in the past or unchangeable. Heritage buildings need to live by being sympathetically used and adapted, so their stories can continue to be told and appreciated.
Dunedin City Council continues to work with owners, developers and organisations wanting to redevelop and adapt heritage buildings for contemporary use. We have worked with a range of stakeholders on how best to overcome barriers to the economic re-use of heritage buildings and continue to welcome your input. Contact the Heritage Advisor on 03 477 4000 or heritage@dcc.govt.nz.
For those who are keen to know more about the City’s revitalisation progress, take a look at the Central City Plan pages www.dunedin.govt.nz/council/policies,-plans-and-strategies/plans/central-city-plan.
Archaeological sites
Archaeological sites tell the story of our past. They are important and irreplaceable parts of our heritage, so identifying, protecting and managing them correctly is important to provide an understanding of our past, both now and in the future.
Only a small number (41) of Dunedin’s archaeological sites are protected under the Resource Management Act in the District Plan. However, a much larger number of sites are identified by the New Zealand Archaeological Association (NZAA) and protected from damage by the Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga Act 2014 (administered separately by Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga; see Archaeology. Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga is the body charged with statutory functions relating to the recording of pre-1900 era archaeological sites, both below-ground and built.
The NZAA’s Archsite website, provides access to information about archaeological sites in New Zealand. The goals of the NZAA are to promote archaeological research and the conservation of archaeological sites where possible.