Site Recording Scheme Upgrade Project

THE NZAA ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE RECORDING SCHEME UPGRADE PROJECT 

The upgrade project ran from 1998 to 2007. It is now in a wind-down stage consolidating the data. No new surveying projects are being taken on.

The information below is for historical purposes.

Background

The New Zealand Archaeological Association (NZAA) was established in 1954 with the objectives being to promote and foster research into the prehistory and archaeology of New Zealand, and to press for archaeological site protection.  It is a non-statutory body representing professional and amateur archaeologists throughout the country.

The NZAA Site Recording Scheme (SRS) was established in 1957 to encourage the recording of information about archaeological sites.  It is a paper-based record system which may contain plans, section drawings, photographs, artefact drawings and field notes.  It is organised on a district basis, with each of the 20 district files managed by a volunteer filekeeper.  A duplicate set of each file is housed in Wellington in a collective Central File, managed by the Central Filekeeper. 

The Department of Conservation owns and maintains the Central Index of New Zealand Archaeological Sites (CINZAS).  This index was derived from the SRS. 

The Site Recording Scheme is endorsed by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust and the Department of Conservation as the national system for recording archaeological site information, and was described in a review (1996) by the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment as “a database of major national significance”.

 The NZ Historic Places Trust, Department of Conservation and NZAA have a written agreement relating to the Organisation and Operation of The NZAA Site Recording Scheme.  The Central File currently contains over 59,000 records.  Records have been contributed by many different individuals and agencies over many years and so vary in quality and in the level of detail offered.

The SRS was established as a special interest database, and its primary use for many years was as a research tool for members of NZAA.  Since the advent of the Resource Management Act 1991 (the RMA) and the revised Historic Places Act 1993 (the HPA) there has been greater use of the Scheme in planning and legal issues for site identification, protection and management.  Territorial local authorities are one of the principle users of the Scheme in their ongoing land and heritage management and protection roles.

It is essential, if we are to ensure the long-term survival of our archaeological heritage, that the information within the SRS is accurate and up to date.  The NZAA is committed to advocating for archaeological site protection, and the SRS is a vital part of this objective.  Accuracy is also required for effective use of the database as a research tool.  As the owners of the Scheme, therefore, the NZAA believes that it has a responsibility to provide accurate information, within reasonable limits.  

The Upgrade Project

  In 1999 the NZAA Council began addressing the inaccuracies in the data by initiating a project to upgrade the information contained in the SRS.  This project involved archaeologists checking the details recorded on the files to assess precision, accuracy and to update the information where required.  It must be stressed that this was not intended as a large-scale site recording project.  The primary focus of the SRS Upgrade Project was just that - to upgrade the information currently held on sites in the Scheme.

The data fields of most urgency to be checked were: grid reference, site location, condition, threats and land ownership status.  It should be stated, however, that not all the sites needed to be visited in order to determine if the information available about the site was adequate. 

During the first five years of the project funding assistance was received from the Lottery Grants Board, through the Lottery Environment and Heritage Committee.  From July 2004 the Ministry for Culture & Heritage provided funding for the national project administration, electronic database development and Iwi participation for a period of three years. 

Local Authority Involvement

Since the advent of the RMA and the revised HPA there has been greater use of the Scheme in planning and legal issues for site identification, protection and management.  Local authorities are one of the principle users of the Scheme in their land and heritage management and protection roles.  The 2003 amendment of the RMA (section 6(f)) elevated historic heritage to a matter of national importance and requires local authorities to    “recognise and provide for [historic heritage]…”, rather than to “…have particular regard to…” as previously required under section 7(e). The definition of historic heritage includes archaeological sites and it is anticipated that the SRS will become even more important as a source of information to local authorities and land owners.

Section 35 of the RMA 1991 requires local authorities to "gather such information, and undertake or commission such research, as is necessary to carry out effectively its functions".  The NZAA Council considers the SRS Upgrade Project to fall within that definition.

The Upgrade Project commenced in the Gisborne district in June 1999.   Project work has been undertaken in every region of New Zealand.  Project fieldwork was made possible by funding assistance from each of the participating local authorities.  Forty-five local authority districts have participated in the Upgrade Project and have upgraded archaeological site record information.   A number of local authorities throughout New Zealand decided not to participate in the project.  The accuracy of archaeological site data in these districts, therefore, has not been verified by a recent field visit.

Iwi/hapu Involvement

 A number of Iwi/hapu have established their own environmental and cultural heritage databases so they can have greater input to resource management issues within their rohe.  In most cases they have obtained the base data about archaeological sites, some of which may also be wahi tapu, from the SRS.  This data is usually provided free of charge, either as paper records from the relevant district file, or by the Department of Conservation as an electronic download of relevant CINZAS data.  

 The NZAA encouraged active Iwi/hapu participation in the Upgrade Project. We were, however, be guided by each Iwi/hapu regarding their level of involvement in the project.  In some areas this extended to having an Iwi/hapu representative accompany the archaeologist during fieldwork.  Iwi/hapu representatives were selected by the participating Iwi/hapu, and were usually people with a particular interest in cultural heritage management and conservation. 

The NZAA acknowledges that archaeological sites are only one aspect of cultural heritage.  The Upgrade Project was not intended to replace a comprehensive assessment of cultural heritage places.  Archaeologists are trained to recognise and interpret archaeological information and are able to provide expert advice about the interpretation and management of archaeological sites.

Landowner Involvement

The majority of the recorded archaeological sites are located on privately owned land.  The success of the project was, therefore, dependant upon access being granted by property owners.  All landowners with recorded archaeological sites on their properties, that are to be included in the project fieldwork, were contacted in writing and a request for their written consent to allow the field crew to visit their property was sought.  The NZAA respected and abided by any restrictions on access imposed by landowners.  The field inspections were undertaken on foot and no ground disturbance occurred.  If landowners declined property access, the information contained in the SRS about sites on their property was unable to be checked and updated.

Beyond the Upgrade Project 

The NZAA recently received funding from the Community Partnership Fund administered by the Department of Internal Affairs in order to carry out a project to digitize the information contained within the NZAA Site Recording Scheme.  The intention is to commission and build a digital Site Recording Scheme over the next three years.  This scheme will incorporate the information gathered during the NZAA Upgrade Project.

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