Website brings history to life

The Historic Places Trust believes its latest project will make NZ's heritage more accessible, says property editor ANNE GIBSON.

Information about our most precious historic buildings, sites and areas will be available on a website this year.

The Historic Places Trust hopes to put its national historic register of about 6000 entries - including about 5000 buildings - on its website at www.historic.org.nz.

The national project follows the start of the trust's Auckland branch website last November.

Information on the national list of historic buildings and sites can be gained from visiting local authorities or the trust's network of offices and viewing the records, but the web projects will open the information to everyone with internet access.

Dr Bill Tramposch, chief executive of the trust, said he was delighted with the project for the new national website, which would bring New Zealand's history alive and make it more accessible.

"The development and launch of the national database on the internet is the culmination of more than 30 years' work by the trust, identifying, recording and registering New Zealand's heritage places," he said.

Not only would the buildings, sites and areas be listed, but the trust's information on them would also be extended and updated.

Trust marketing and communications manager Paul Leslie described the scale of the project as "enormous" and said extra staff had to be taken on for it.

"The site will be an invaluable source of information for lawyers, architects, local authorities and developers," he said.

All category one and category two sites and buildings will be listed on the web. The trust's register of historic places is New Zealand's most comprehensive list of buildings, sites, areas and wahi tapu - places of historical, cultural or spiritual significance to Maori.

Category one historic places are of special or outstanding historical or cultural heritage significance or value. Category two historic places are of historical or cultural heritage significance or value.

Historic areas are groups of heritage places such as associated archaeological sites or defined geographical areas containing registered buildings or structures.

Registration does not automatically protect historic places, but the register does identify places or buildings that the trust says should be protected against modification, damage, neglect or demolition.

Peter Richardson, senior heritage policy analyst with the trust in Wellington, said he hoped the first 1000 listings would be on the web around March 19.

"This is a work in progress and we have researchers working on it around New Zealand during the next year. The entries will be put on the web once they are checked," he said.

Some of the buildings and sites added to the register by the Historic Places Trust board last year were: * The 1903 Canterbury Horse Bazaar (category 2). * Woodville's 1897 band rotunda and Fountaine Square (historic area).* The remains of Kumara's Depression-era swimming pool on the West Coast of the South Island, built in 1934 (category two historic place).* An area of 45 properties around Christchurch's 1856 Englefield Lodge (historic area).* The bridle path over the Port Hills above Christchurch (historic area). * Christchurch's former Victory Memorial School (category two).* The Murphy's Flat gold mining area in Central Otago, worked from the early 1860s (historic reserve, vested in DoC).* The Solway show buildings of the Masterton Agricultural and Pastoral Association, including a 1910 grandstand, kiosk, pavilions and animal pens - New Zealand's most complete collection of show buildings (historic area).

The Historic Places Trust NZ

Historic Auckland