Historic Places Amendment Bill
Government Bill
As reported from the Government Administration Committee"

 

Protected Objects Amendment Bill
Government Bill
The purpose of this Bill is to amend the Antiquities Act 1975 '(the principal
Act') to---"

 

Coral reef reveals history of fickle weather in the central Pacific
Close examination of coral reef reveals that when the rest of the world was experiencing warm weather, the Pacific was cold. And during a period of cold weather elsewhere in the world, the Pacific was warm and stormy
For more than five decades, archaeologists, geographers, and other researchers studying the Pacific Islands have used a model of late Holocene climate change based largely on other regions of the world. However, in a new study from the June issue of Current Anthropology, Melinda Allen (University of Auckland, New Zealand) uses evidence from the long-lived Pacific corals to suggest that the climate in the Pacific diverged from the rest of the world during two major climate periods: the 'Little Ice Age' and the 'Medieval Warm Period.'
'These findings have relevance for both ancient and modern Pacific peoples,' explains Allen. 'Climate change, accelerated sea rise, and deterioration of coral reefs, along with their associated social and environmental costs, are among the most pressing concerns of Pacific Island nations today.' "

 

Shipwreck may be Cook's "Endeavour"
Captain James Cook's Endeavour, the 18th century ship he sailed on his epic voyage to New Zealand, may be one of the four shipwrecks found off the coast of the US.
The ship is among four from a British fleet used during the US Revolutionary War found off Rhode Island.
Researchers with the Rhode Island Marine Archaeology Project say they believe the ships, and two others previously discovered, are part of a 13-vessel transport fleet.
The fleet was intentionally sunk by the British in Newport Harbor in 1778 to keep French ships from landing to aid the Americans' drive for independence."

 

Officers of New Zealand Archaeological Association Inc.
President Pam Bain
Vice President Elizabeth Pishief
Secretary Moira White
Treasurer Karen Greig
Council Members
Cathy Barr
Emma Brooks
Mat Schmidt
Richard Walter
Immediate Past President Lynda Walter

 

'Hobbit' stirs scientific clash
A US-British team of scientists has challenged the idea that the tiny skeleton from Indonesia dubbed the 'Hobbit' is a new human species.
Writing in Science magazine, the team presents an alternative theory that the remains could be those of a modern human with a brain disorder.
Their arguments appear in a technical critique of previous research into the Hobbit brain also published in Science. "

 

Historic places benefit from budget
The Historic Places Trust will receive a multi-million dollar boost to its operating funding, as well as more money to refurbish its heritage buildings.
The charitable trust is charged with protecting and preserving the historic and cultural heritage of New Zealand.
In a pre-budget announcement, the government says it has allocated just over $12 million in new money over the next four years to help the trust to build capacity and capability.
The trust will also receive new funding of $3 million over the next two years, to support its capital plan. "

 

Harawira: Historic Places Amendment Bill
Historic Places Amendment Bill [Second reading]
Hone Harawira, Member of Parliament for Tai Tokerau
When the Historic Places Bill came before this House in 1954, Duncan Rae, MP for Eden, told Parliament that ?no country can afford to neglect its history?.
Such a concept resonates within every Maori heart. The call, ?Kia ? kia mau ki t? Maoritanga? encourages tangata whenua to be firm in holding on to the richness of our culture - our spiritual beliefs, customs, literature, myths, legends and many other ethnographical aspects that give meaning to life.
Within this world view, tangata whenua have appreciated the enduring role of the New Zealand Historic Places Trust in promoting the ?historic places? dimension of heritage."
The second key failing in the Bill is around the notification requirements. The Bill proposes that in order to register an historic or wahi tapu area, the Trust is required to ascertain the names and address of people or owners with a registered interest.
Mr Speaker, when one considers the reality of Maori land ownership, there are often hundreds, even thousands, of owners in minute fractions. If such land was to be included in a proposal for registration it might, therefore, be impossible for both the Historic Places Trust and the relevant Council to deliver to such unworkable expectations.
The second key failing in the Bill is around the notification requirements. The Bill proposes that in order to register an historic or wahi tapu area, the Trust is required to ascertain the names and address of people or owners with a registered interest.
Mr Speaker, when one considers the reality of Maori land ownership, there are often hundreds, even thousands, of owners in minute fractions. If such land was to be included in a proposal for registration it might, therefore, be impossible for both the Historic Places Trust and the relevant Council to deliver to such unworkable expectations.

Saturday, May 13, 2006