Question 1

What is World Heritage Status?

Accepted Answer

•World Heritage is the designation for places on earth that are of outstanding universal value to humanity and as such, have been inscribed on the World Heritage List to be protected for future generations to appreciate and enjoy.

•It is a global status symbol.

•Elevating Kaikoura beyond just national importance to one of international significance. Highlighting Kaikoura as one of the best places in the world

Kaikoura is working towards being added to the Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai Aotearoa New Zealand’s World Heritage Tentative List.

The World Heritage List is established under the UNESCO World Heritage Convention. New Zealand joined the Convention in 1984,
accepting responsibility for ensuring that the country’s World Heritage sites are identified, protected, conserved and transmitted to future generations. Having a Tentative List is part of that responsibility.

The Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai (DOC) maintains
Aotearoa New Zealand’s Tentative List and can nominate sites for inclusion on the World Heritage List.

Question 2

What is the Tentative List and Role of the Tentative List

Accepted Answer

A site must be on the Tentative List before it can be
nominated for World Heritage status. This includes
adding new criteria to an existing World Heritage site
(for example, adding cultural criteria to a natural site)
or making a boundary modification that is more
than minor.

Including a site on the Tentative List indicates an
interest in obtaining World Heritage status at a later
stage and a strong likelihood of meeting the UNESCO
criteria. No responsibilities or obligations come from
being on the list.

If a Tentative List site is nominated for World Heritage
status, a separate process follows. World Heritage
nominations are considered by the World Heritage
Committee and do come with responsibilities. While
being included on the Tentative List is the first step in
the nomination process, there is no guarantee of being
granted World Heritage status.

Question 3

Who Manages and controls World Heritage sites?

Accepted Answer

Local communities to manage World Heritage areas, with central Government having primary responsibility on an international level.

The protection and management of World Heritage areas can include using traditional practices.

Measures for protection and management are not
prescribed by UNESCO; they are described in the
nomination documentation for each site.

World Heritage areas may support a variety of uses, including uses that are ecologically and culturally sustainable, as well as those that
may enhance the quality of life and wellbeing of communities concerned.

It would be important to include information on customary ractices or traditional uses, including mahinga kai (food gathering), in an application for the Tentative List. This information should also be
included in the development of any nomination for inscription on the World Heritage List.

Under the Convention, New Zealand Central Government (the State) has the primary responsibility, whilst support local communities to manage it.

• ARTICLE 4: Each State Party to this Convention recognizes that the duty of ensuring the identification, protection, conservation, presentation and transmission to future generations of the cultural and natural heritage referred to in Articles 1 and 2 and situated on its territory, belongs primarily to that State.

• ARTICLE 5: To ensure that effective and active measures are taken for the protection, conservation and presentation of the cultural and natural heritage situated on its territory, each States Party to this Convention shall endeavour, in so far as possible, and as appropriate for each country:

(a) to adopt a general policy which aims to give the cultural and natural heritage a function in 				                    the life of the community and to integrate the protection of that heritage into comprehensive planning  programmes

Question 4

What are the current World Heritage Sites in New Zealand?

Accepted Answer

Te Wāhipounamu: South West New Zealand
This 2.6million hectare area encompasses four national parks - Westland Tai Poutini, Aoraki /Mount Cook, Mount Aspiring and Fiordland

Subantarctic Islands
Together, the Bounty Islands, Antipodes Islands, Snares Islands, Auckland Islands and Campbell Island.

Tongariro
The mountains - Ruapehu, Tongariro, Ngauruhoe - and adjoining lands formed the Tongariro National Park

Question 5

What places are on New Zealand's tentative list?

Accepted Answer

• Kerikeri Basin historic precinct 
 • Napier Art Deco historic precinct
 • Waitangi Treaty Grounds historic precinct
 • Kahurangi National Park, Farewell Spit, Waikoropupu Springs and Canaan Karst System 
 • Kermadec Islands and Marine Reserve 
 • WhakaruaMoutere (North-East Islands) 
 • Canterbury High Country Braided Rivers and Lakes (Rangitata River, Rakaia River, Ashburton Lakes-Hakatere, Upper Ashburton River)
 • Rotorua Geyser Fields and Geothermal Sites 
 • Stewart Island / Rakiura Archipelago 
 • Waters and Seabed of Fiords of Fiordland (Te Moana o Atawhenua) – An addition to Te Wahipounamu (South-West New Zealand) World Heritage Area

Ask a Questions