What Council Is Doing

Development pressures are the biggest threat to the rich heritage history in the district. Council is continuing to monitor development to ensure heritage values are maintained. Six consent conditions have been imposed on resource consents to protect or enhance heritage resources since 2007/08. These conditions related to a variety of issues including; waiving car parking requirements, erection of signage, constructions of decks and the control of a building’s appearance.

In 2009/10 the conditions imposed related to the erection of Heritage Trail signage district-wide by Council, and the replacement of a building within the Te Aroha Heritage Character area.

Plan Change 47 has reviewed the extent of the Te Aroha Heritage Character area to ensure that it forms a precinct of historic buildings - to act as a focal point - near to the centre of the town. Section 10 of the District Plan has also been reviewed to ensure that the rule framework is not unduly restrictive to these building owners.

Number of imposed conditions on resource consents to protect or enchance heritage resources

Council has allocated funds for the protection and promotion of the heritage resources in the district, including managing the Matamata, Te Aroha, Morrinsville and Matamata-Piako District Heritage Trails. Each of the four heritage trails has a corresponding brochure which is distributed through our information centres.

 In addition, heritage funding assists with advertising for the Te Aroha Leisure Pools and Spas, and assisting with funding of the three museums in Morrinsville, Matamata (Firth Tower) and Te Aroha.

 Amount of Council spending on protecting, enhancing and promoting heritage features 

In 2016/17, $3,824 of heritage funding was spent on building maintenance at Te Aroha Domain and $7,227 at Firth Tower. $1,527 was paid toward Firth Tower operating costs and a further $448 was spent on the maintenance and repair of the three town clocks. 

In 2017/18, the largest contribution from Council was that of $5,500 to help maintain historic buildings at the Te Aroha Domain, A further $3,667 was spent to assist with the Te Aroha Museum operating costs. $2,892 was spent on building maintenance at Firth Tower.

In 2018/19, Council spend $28,001 for the maintenance of the historic buildings and operating costs for Firth Tower. At the Te Aroha Domain the cost for maintaining historic buildings was $9,500.

What you can do to help

• You can register any heritage site with Heritage New Zealand 
• Apply for heritage protection funding

How are we doing?

Anticipated Environmental Results Heritage	Achieved? Achieving Progress towards achievement Not Achieving Not Monitored
Certainty in the protection of the significant historic resources of the district
Owners of historic resources will retain and protect these resources for the appreciation of future generations
Improved public awareness of the value of the district’s historic resources

Click here to learn more about District Plan Effectiveness and read the full report on Heritage

Useful Links

Heritage New Zealand

Waikato Regional Council Perception Survey

For More Information

Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or
Customer Services
Matamata-Piako District Council
PO Box 266, Te Aroha 3342
Phone: 07 884 0060
Fax: 07 884 8865