Funds hope for heritage sites

The Historic Places Trust is concerned heritage buildings could be demolished as new earthquake strengthening plans are drawn up.

Historic Places Trust senior heritage policy adviser Robert McClean said there was concern that some historic buildings could be demolished because owners could not afford to do the strengthening work needed.

But the trust saw an opportunity for owners of heritage buildings to be better supported, possibly financially, to ensure buildings were upgraded, he said.

Local authorities were producing policies on earthquake risks that needed to also refer to heritage buildings.

He expected each authority to take a different approach.

Most affected would be pre-1930s brick or unreinforced masonry buildings.

Some small towns, such as Wanganui and Marton, which had a high proportion of two-storey commercial buildings of the type most likely to need work, would probably be affected more than others.

About 5000 places were registered with the trust, not all of them buildings, and possibly 10 per cent could be of the type most likely to be affected by strengthening requirements.

- NZPA