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Transit Rewards Outstanding Heritage Management
Transit New Zealand has, for the first time, made an award recognising outstanding management of heritage sites on state highways.
The award, which aims to recognise the key role that community groups had play in helping Transit protect heritage, took place at the New Zealand Historic Places Trust's 50th Anniversary Heritage conference in Napier in October. Transit sponsored the conference to highlight its role in protecting cultural and historic heritage.
Puketapu Hapu o Te Atiawa and in particular the Oropuriri and Hoewaka Whanau, of Taranaki, won the 2005 Transit Heritage Award for their assistance with exploration of the Bell Block Bypass project site on State Highway 3.
Transit New Zealand staff with members of Puketapu Hapu o Te Atiawa - Oropuriri, Hoewaka Whanau
What began over three years ago as a routine archaeological investigation initially unearthed the largest whare ever excavated in New Zealand, and eventually unearthed a full gun-fighting pa.
"With each increase in the significance of the find, the hapu remained open-minded in dealing with Transit representatives and worked with a superb spirit of co-operation," Transit's National Standards Manager Lisa Rossiter says.
Transit also recognised two other organisations with highly commended awards. The New Zealand Archaeological Association was recognised for the voluntary development and maintenance of its Site Recording Scheme, which lists details of archaeological sites. Transit uses the database for project planning.
Tangata Whenua of the Takahanga Marae in Kaikoura were highly commended for their contribution to developing Transit's heritage training workshops for the Canterbury-West Coast region. The workshops trained Transit staff, consultants and contractors in understanding heritage issues and the practicalities of on-site heritage management.