Greater Protection Coming for Monuments and Memorials

Eighteen monuments and memorials in New Plymouth District have been recommended for category A status by NPDC’s Policy Committee.

The decision potentially brings the total number of category A monuments and memorials in New Plymouth District to 24.

In addition, the Uruti War Memorial and Waitara War Memorial Gates will be reassessed for consideration of category A classification.

Committee chair Heather Dodunski says the classification change will help keep the district’s rich history alive in people’s minds.

“Many of these monuments mark watersheds in the history of our district – events that have been part of bringing us to where we are today,” she says.

“By bringing them under the protection of the District Plan, we can ensure future generations are reminded of what has gone before.”

Category A status means the monument or memorial is subject to rules within the District Plan, thereby providing a level of protection to the heritage item.

The allocation of category A status will require a plan change to the District Plan, which includes further consultation with the landowners who have these monuments and memorials on their properties, plus submissions from the public.

Twenty-eight unprotected monuments and memorials were assessed by local heritage architect Alan Reed with assistance from NPDC’s Senior Researcher Ron Lambert and Kinsley Sampson from Save Our Sites.

The 18 selected for category A status are in Bell Block, New Plymouth, Oakura, Waitara, Omata, Tariki, Urenui, Ratapiko, Lepperton and Inglewood.

The council has also begun developing a heritage strategy that will guide how it approaches a variety of heritage issues, including other monuments and memorials that do not have category A status.

Acting Manager Environmental Strategy and Policy Mitchell Dyer says the strategy will allow community consideration of all heritage issues and policies in an integrated manner.

“Creating the heritage strategy will require extensive consultation with the public, as it will influence and enhance everything to do with heritage across the district,” says Mr Dyer.

The 18 monuments and memorials that will be included in the plan change are:

Bell Block War Memorial.
South African War Memorial Fountain.
Lepperton Monument – War Memorial.
Whiteley Mission Monument.
Okato War Memorial.
Monument to Rev John Whiteley and Others.
57th (Albuhera) Regiment Monument.
Waitara War Memorial.
Frankley Road War Memorial.
Omata War Memorial.
Tariki War Memorial.
Urenui War Memorial.
Flagpole – War Memorial Site.
Polish War Memorial Rock.
Ratapiko War Memorial.
Pioneer Women’s Centennial Seat.
Westown School War Memorial.
Waitara Land War Memorial.