The Invercargill City District has a rich heritage and we are fortunate to have a wide range of buildings, sites, places and landscapes reflecting many aspects of our social, economic and cultural history. Some of these sites are recognised as nationally important. While Heritage New Zealand has an important role in supporting the protection and enhancement of our heritage, the Council also has a part to play. This includes provisions in the District Plan addressing heritage and archaeological sites. There are also non-regulatory tools such as heritage design and colour guidelines and repainting initiatives.
In 1997, the Council commissioned Oakley Gray Architects to develop a heritage report, which identified a number of heritage features in the City Centre. This was used to inform the development of the District Plan provisions. In 2016, the Council commissioned a further report to reassess the buildings in the City Centre. This was carried out by Origin Consultants and includes a number of recommendations. Before any changes to the District Plan are made the Council will need to consult with the landowners and the community.
