Source: New Zealand Government
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has released an investigation report and launched consultation on Wellington’s heritage planning rules related to five key sites.
The report following a request from Wellington City Council for the Minister to exercise the regulation-making power in the Resource Management Act, which enables the Minister Responsible for RMA Reform to remove or modify provisions in district plans where they negatively impact economic growth, development capacity or employment.
“The Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Wellington asked me to look at heritage provisions related to the the Karori Tunnel and Kelburn Viaduct, the former General Headquarters Building at the corner of Taranaki Street and Buckle Street, and the Miramar oil tank. They also asked me to look at the height restrictions in the Courtenay Place Heritage Area,” Mr Bishop says.
“The investigation found that some heritage provisions are having negative impacts on economic growth and employment and explores how these can be remedied. I am now consulting on those findings.
“The report estimates that modifying/removing the relevant controls could enable around 770 additional apartments, generate approximately $280 million in construction activity, and support around 300 jobs through commercial redevelopment, including film studio facilities.
“Community consultation is an important part of this process, and I encourage anyone with relevant information, evidence or views on these heritage provisions to take part.
“There are several statutory steps that must be completed before any regulations can be made. Wellington City Council has received the investigation report, and affected parties are now being invited to provide feedback on its findings.”
Following consultation, the Minister will consider feedback from affected parties alongside Wellington City Council’s response to the investigation report before deciding whether to recommend regulations under section 360I of the Resource Management Act.
Notes to editor:
- See previous PR about this investigation getting underway: New investigations into heritage and housing rules | Beehive.govt.nz
- Details on how to participate in the consultation and access the full investigation report are available on the Ministry’s website.
- The stakeholders who have been invited to provide feedback from today are:
- relevant requiring authorities and other stakeholders (eg, Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga and the New Zealand Defense Force)
- the Wellington Regional Council and territorial authorities within the Greater Wellington region
- relevant owners and / or occupiers of the heritage sites subject to provisions recommended for modification or removal (approximately 230 have been identified by the Wellington City Council rates database)
- relevant iwi and hapū groups (Waikato, Maniapoto, Raukawa, Hauraki).
- Public consultation will open to the public on 5 August for 10 days.
- The provisions relate to these places:
Courtenay Place Heritage Area (CPHA) – District Plan Reference number 26 (DP Ref #26).
- The heritage area is a rectangular portion of eastern Te Aro that encompasses seven streets and a number of listed heritage buildings.
b. Karori Tunnel – DP Ref #6.
- Heritage listing of an active transport structure that provides the principal access to Karori, is Wellington’s oldest road tunnel. Notable for its larger aperture and robust brickwork, the 75-metre tunnel connects Chaytor Street on the Karori side with Glenmore Street on the city side of what used to be known as ‘Baker’s Hill’.
c. Kelburn Viaduct – DP Ref #27.
- Heritage listing of an active transport structure is a reinforced concrete girder two-lane road bridge completed in 1931. Designed by the Wellington City Council’s engineering department, which was headed by important engineer George A Hart (1870–1948), the Kelburn Viaduct is a notable structure within its urban streetscape.
d. Former GHQ Building, corner of Taranaki St and Buckle St – DP Ref #424.
- The heritage listing of a 1911–12 building, designated for defence purposes; is probably the oldest existing military administration building remaining in New Zealand. It is important as the earliest remaining symbol of 150 years of military history associated with the Mount Cook site.
e. Miramar Installation Bulk Storage Tank, 139 Park Road (Miramar site) – DP Ref #511.
- The last extant bulk storage tank of the British Imperial Oil Company’s installation. Work on the installation began in 1925 for the purpose of bulk storage of petroleum, kerosene, and liquid fuels. When completed, it was the first bulk storage installation in New Zealand and remained the centre of operations even after a network of installations were erected at port cities throughout New Zealand.
Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/08/03/consultation-opens-on-wellington-heritage-provisions/