Navigating the Depths
A Heritage Policy Review and Proposed Guiding Framework for Underwater Cultural Heritage Management in New Zealand
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 21194643 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Kurt Bennett (0000-0002-2846-5710, Department of Archaeology, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 16 |
| Issue | 3 |
| Pages | 469-492 |
| Publication date | 2025-07-03 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | The Historic Environment Policy & Practice (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1756-7505 • E-ISSN: 1756-7513 |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/17567505.2025.2544094 |
| OpenAlex | W4413026365 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 5 |
New Zealand’s underwater cultural heritage is under increasing pressure from marine development activities such as seabed mining, offshore energy and dredging. Yet the country lacks a cohesive policy or legislative framework specifically tailored to protect submerged heritage. This paper reviews current heritage policy and legislation in New Zealand, identifying key gaps and limitations in how underwater cultural heritage is managed. Drawing on international best practices from countries like Australia and the UK and referencing the UNESCO 2001 Convention, the paper makes the case for why underwater heritage requires distinct treatment compared to terrestrial sites. It introduces draft guiding principles – the first of their kind in New Zealand – that aim to provide practical, culturally grounded guidance for developers, planners and heritage agencies. These principles advocate for the early integration of heritage into development processes, enhanced inter-agency coordination and the inclusion of Mātauranga Māori. While grounded in the New Zealand context, the approach offers wider relevance for jurisdictions grappling with similar governance and protection challenges
Archaeology · Cultural heritage · Cultural heritage management · Environmental planning · Environmental resource management · Geography · Political science · Underwater · Archaeological Research and Protection · Cultural Heritage Management and Preservation · Environmental Science · History · Maritime and Coastal Archaeology · Geology · Oceanography
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |