Sites & Areas of Significance to Māori
Response
Sent: Thursday, 4 September 2025 08:17 am
Subject: Official Information Request - Sites and Areas of Significance to Māori
I refer to your Official Information request of 1 September 2025 for information regarding Sites and Areas of Significance to Māori (SASM).
The information requested can be found online on Councils website as below:
Rotorua District Plan | Part 2: District Wide Matters | Historical and Cultural Values
Schedule for Structures and Sites of Cultural Significance
These include the following:
- Structures and Sites of Cultural Significance Schedule
- Archaeological sites
- Schedule of Marae
- Statutory Acknowledgements
- Extracts from Settlement Legislation
Maps with locations of the SASM
Question:
What processes and areas of your council use SASM?
Answer:
Predominantly Resource Consent applicants, RMA Policy and RMA Consents Teams and Councils Open Spaces Team.
Question:
What are the potential implications associated with the recognition of SASM in your district/region? E.g. are there any tikanga requirements, additional controls on development, special requirements for earthworks, water-takes, building etc.
Answer:
The district plan framework provides protection and consideration of the sites and structures when developing land in the Rotorua district.
Question:
What is the rationale and evidence used to support the use of SASM in these processes?
Answer:
Legislation, Iwi Management Plans, National Database(s), Archaeological Assessments, Cultural Impact Assessments, and Iwi Consultation/Engagement.
Question:
What rationale and evidence base does your council use when considering whether a SASM should be recognised in your council processes?
Answer:
Archaeological Assessments, Cultural Impact Assessments, and Iwi Consultation/Engagement.
Question:
Are there any other relevant statistics or other information relating to SASM that you can provide that would help us understand how and why SASM are recognised by your council in your district/region?
Answer:
N/A.
