The Māori Heritage team, made up of Siani Walker (Te Atihau-nui-a-paparangi), Lara Taylor (Ngāti Kahu) and Rasheeda Woolford (Ngāti Maniapoto), was created to undertake the ten-year Māori Cultural Heritage Project. The project is unique in New Zealand at local government level. It’s a collaboration with the iwi of Tāmaki Makaurau, integrating their mātauranga Māori into heritage assessments and resource management decisions.

The 'Earthquake prone buildings - guidance and approaches' has been released by the Waitematā Local Board. Tanya Sorrell of the Heritage Unit has been involved in the development of the guidance and says "it is my hope that this helps to demystify the process and terminology around earthquake prone buildings and seismic assessment". The guidance uses diagrams and illustrations to deliver detailed information on assessment and retrofit design, focusing on Auckland's seismic demands.

Kaukapakapa Library is one of the smallest libraries in New Zealand and is one of more than 300 places of heritage interest owned and managed by the Auckland Council. Members of our Heritage Unit have been out in the field over the summer as part of a wider Heritage Asset Management Project to create a clear picture of the condition of these special places.

Gold miners, bushmen, public works staff, farmers, clerks, surveyors and engineers answered the imperial call for a tunnelling company from New Zealand to be formed to go to the Western Front. This month marks the 100^th anniversary of the tunnellers arrival in France, the first New Zealand contingent to reach that theatre of conflict. With picks and shovels they engaged in a secret war below ground. A monument was recently unveiled at Waihi to recognise the efforts of these men.

Image: Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, AWNS-19151223-43-1

Who is buried in the graves at Matatūahu Point in Tāwharanui?  It’s been a mystery for many years, leading Robert Brassey of our Heritage Unit to investigate.  This work is part of a wider and ongoing review of archaeological sites protected in the PAUP.

The (re)discovery of the site of the old Little Huia Wharf is one of the exciting early finds from our Heritage Unit's survey of the southern coast of the Waitakere Ranges. Originally built in 1907, the wharf was a landing place for passenger ferries crossing the Manukau Harbour. The current survey is part of the monitoring and reporting required under the Waitakere Heritage Area Act.

image: Huia Wharf, 1908. Auckland Libraries, West Auckland Research Centre, JTD-07A-02889

The heritage topic hearings of the PAUP are complete. "That is pretty awesome" says Rebecca Fogel, one of the last heritage experts to give evidence to the Auckland Unitary Plan Independent Hearings Panel, "and a huge accomplishment". The input of our Heritage Unit into the PAUP does continue on related topics such as the zoning and precinct topics.

Haere rā ko Keita Kotere, for now, as she starts her exciting adventure on maternity leave.  Haere mai ko Siani Walker, who is covering Keita, as our Māori Heritage Program Lead.  Ngā mihi nui to Mary Kienholz – our new Senior Specialist: Community Heritage.  This is a new role within the team focusing on council grants, events and, in the future, the establishment of a heritage outreach program.

The feedback on the newsletter was not overwhelming BUT the feedback we did receive was overwhelmingly positive! There will be some slight changes resulting from what you said, not only to the look of our banner. The content will profile more of the work (and the people) of the Heritage Unit.  The frequency will continue to be quarterly / seasonal with a special edition for the Heritage Festival. Our numbers have already increased, with 942 people receiving our enews.