1 December 2014

Settlement reached after lime kilns damaged

Heritage New Zealand has settled with Oamaru company Mitchell & Webster Limited following damage to two of North Otago’s most iconic stone structures at a dairy conversion site earlier this year.

The Teaneraki or Meeks Lime Kilns date to 1896 and about 1906, and were among the earliest kilns built in the region. Heritage New Zealand archaeologist Dr Matt Schmidt says about three to four metres was taken off the kilns during earthworks before work on the site was halted. Because the working area and one of the kilns are pre-1900 an archaeological authority was required prior to work commencing.

Following a constructive on-site meeting Mitchell & Webster Ltd acknowledged it had damaged an important part of the region’s industrial history. The company has agreed to contribute financially towards a Heritage New Zealand project which will involve inputting field and historic data on 180 archaeological sites in North Otago into the New Zealand Archaeological Association’s national database (Archsite).

“It is a great shame what has happened to these kilns but the outcome for recording industrial archaeology has been very positive,” says Dr Schmidt.

“As part of the agreement reached the site will be fenced, what remains of the kilns will be stabilised and irrigation will be controlled so as to not affect the site.

“The financial contribution from Mitchell & Webster will go a long way to ensuring such sites are recorded on the NZAA’s Archsite and information is readily accessible to the farming community and developers.”

ENDS

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