The New Zealand Heritage List/Rārangi Kōrero (the List) recognises the heritage significance of a place, assessed against a national standard. This status or mana is often appreciated by owners who value the history or heritage features of a property, and the character that this can lend to a business run from the site, or to everyday life.

We can provide plaques on request, and a platform for sharing website links to promote a place’s heritage status via the List Online.

Listing gives owners access to support from our expert staff. Our free advice can help people navigate a smoother path through council consenting processes, and our guidance can help achieve repairs and alterations that balance a place’s heritage features with modern living needs.

Listed status supports applications for funding, including for New Zealand Lotteries Board grants. Some local authorities have heritage grants and funds available for owners of places that are listed. Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga also works behind the scenes to encourage local authorities to offer further heritage incentives like consent fee waivers.

Private owners of listed places are also eligible to apply to our National Heritage Preservation Incentive Fund.

Inclusion on the List does not protect a place from demolition or alteration unless they are also included in a relevant district plan. District plans are produced by local authorities and include lists of protected or partially protected properties and sites in their area.

Search for your local authority here.

Entries on the List generally recognise the heritage value of a place, rather than a specific element or part of a structure or site in isolation. List entries include land as well as buildings/structures, and usually the interiors as well as exteriors of buildings. The setting of a place is also taken into account. List entries for archaeological sites may extend further than what is visible above ground.

Most places on the List are not accessible to the public. Entry of a place on the New Zealand Heritage List does not give rights of access and private property rights must be respected.

For more information on the visiting status of a specific place on the List, please see the relevant entry via the List Online. To visit a property owned by Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga, see Visit Heritage.

Listing does not directly prevent any changes to a property or create specific rights or controls. Entry on the List isn’t recorded on the property’s Record of Title and doesn’t form any encumbrances (legal restrictions or limitations on the title).

Once a local authority receives a consent application for a property on the List, they must notify Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga. 

We are happy to offer conservation advice to property owners and local authorities. For more, contact your nearest office.

List entries have differing amounts of information depending on when they were entered on the List.

To see if we hold more information about a historic place or historic area, contact your nearest office. To see if we hold more information on a wāhi tapu, wāhi tapu area or wāhi tūpuna, contact our Pou Rārangi Taonga.

If a place is not entered on the List, that doesn’t necessarily mean it has no heritage value. It often just means that the place has not been suggested or considered for entry on the List. Some heritage places may have heritage status on local authority heritage schedules; other places may simply have never been identified.

We have a public nomination process where anyone can apply to have a place considered for entry on the List. Information about the process is available here. Alternatively, please contact us to discuss nominating a place for the List.