For Immediate use

31 May 2002

Campaign for a Better City, PO Box 11-964, Wellington
email: cbc@tradeshall.org.nz web-site: www.cbc.org.nz

CBC appeals Historic Places Trust decision in respect of Wellington Inner City Bypass

Campaign for a Better City Inc. (CBC) today lodged an appeal with the Environment court against the decision of the New Zealand Historic Places Trust (“the Trust”) to grant Archaeological Authorities to Transit NZ in respect of the Wellington City Bypass.

CBC considers that the granting of the authorities:

- Does not accord with the purpose and principles of the Historic Places Act 1993.
- Fails to take into account changes in circumstances in relation to heritage in the area, since the Environment Court decision in 1999.
- Is inconsistent with Trust policy.

CBC Spokesperson, Alan Whiting, said “The granting of the authorities would be disastrous for Te Aro. Whilst the Trust has acknowledged the high archaeological significance of the area, its decision fails to protect these unique Victorian enclaves. It is astonishing that the Trust support’s Transit’s proposal to create a Disneyland-style heritage village.”

It would appear that the Trust’s decision relied too heavily on the ruling from the Environment Court case from which the Trust itself was sadly absent. The Environment Court decision and the threat of continued neglect of the properties by Transit NZ appears to have had too great an influence on the Trust’s considerations.

CBC Spokesperson, Alan Whiting: “The Trust should have had had, at the forefront of its mind, the value of this heritage area to the people of New Zealand. Instead, they made a decision that would see our heritage devalued. In the circumstances, CBC was obliged to appeal in the hope that the court will correct this unfortunate error.”

CBC’s appeal follows a similar appeal by the Te Aro Heritage Trust.

ENDS

For Campaign for a Better City Inc. contact Alan Whiting: (04) 384 2201

For Te Aro Heritage Trust contact Denis Foot: (021) 722 222

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