Based in the historic heart of the city, in Bond Street, Dunedin, New Zealand Heritage Properties is an innovative company, passionate about business, the redevelopment of heritage and character buildings and the archaeology of New Zealand and the Asia Pacific region. The company’s professional archaeology team possess a diverse, yet complimentary, range of specialties whose depth of experience within the heritage and design industry is visible in the level of success and respect the business has generated.

The team is managed by Dr Hayden Cawte and Sheryl Cawte, a couple who share a love of Dunedin, heritage and design. The professional attitude of our team and the innovative GIS and IT solutions we generate mean we work around the country and the globe to help clients manage their heritage and archaeological obligations.

New Zealand Heritage Properties (NZHP) are leaders in heritage and archaeological consulting services with the skills, expertise, experience and dedication to fulfil your project needs.

From the small-scale to large, national, multi-year projects, NZHP has a diverse team of consultants to meet the needs of clients from around the country. NZHP undertakes projects for private property owners and developers, national infrastructure providers, councils and Territorial Local Authorities (TLA’s), large scale developers, businesses, and government agencies. The company’s professional heritage and archaeology team possess a diverse range of skills and specialties whose depth of experience within the industry is visible in the level of success and respect the business has generated.

From our four national branches, we provide exceptional value to clients in the management of their heritage and archaeological needs. Our team are experts in pre-European archaeology, historical archaeology, buildings archaeology, architectural history and conservation, GIS-based modelling and risk management, heritage building reuse and development strategies, mining and mining-related archaeology, urban archaeology, heritage interpretation and design.

So you’ve been told you need an archaeologist! The next question is usually, Why? The reason is most likely because you own or wish to develop a property that has a historic building on it, because the property is in an area of historic importance, or because it is likely to have had human occupation prior to the year 1900.

Why is the year 1900 so important? It is important because this is the legally defined date prior to which, sites and buildings are protected under the Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga Act (2014). Further legal protection is provided under the conditions of the Resource Management Act (1991) which considers historic heritage to be a matter of national importance under Section 6.

This legal protection means that there is a process to go through in order to both, comply with these laws, and to proceed with development works. This process involves an application to Heritage New Zealand to modify or destroy an archaeological site. The issued permit is called an Archaeological Authority.

Before any development on land or buildings with pre-1900 human activity, New Zealand law requires an archaeological authority from Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga. This legal consent ensures that heritage and archaeological values are properly managed during your project.

Why is this important?

The Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga Act (2014) protects all archaeological sites, including land and structures occupied before 1900. Even if a building was constructed after 1900, consent may still be required if earlier occupation occurred on the site. This means that any sub-surface works, demolition, or redevelopment in historic areas must comply with these regulations.

How the Process Works

1.     Archaeological Assessment

The first step is commissioning an archaeological assessment by an approved Section 45 archaeologist. This assessment investigates your site to determine whether historic or archaeological features are present and outlines the level of recording or excavation that may be required. It forms the basis of your authority application.

2.     Application & Review

We submit the assessment to Heritage New Zealand, who review the application and issue an archaeological authority if satisfied. This process can take several weeks or even months, so early engagement is essential to avoid delays.

3.     Conditions of Authority

The issued authority is a legal document that includes conditions to be met before, during, and after works. These typically include:

·        Monitoring and recording during ground disturbance or demolition

·        Excavation and analysis of archaeological features and artefacts

·        Completion of a final report for Heritage New Zealand

What Happens After Approval?

Once the authority is granted, our team manages all required conditions. This includes on-site monitoring, excavation, and detailed analysis of artefacts and faunal material. We compile these findings into a comprehensive final report, which is submitted to Heritage New Zealand to fulfil your legal obligations.

Our specialist services and abilities mean we are required across the nation and often, are required to provide services globally.

Our Head Office is located in Dunedin with a secondary branch in Invercargill.