66 Oct 2021 OceanaGold WNP Project, Waihi - Archaeological / Heritage Assessment Value Archaeological Assessment recording and archaeological investigation on other sections of the race. Amenity value The section of the race that will be affected by the Gladstone Pit has been mostly infilled and obscured by farming activities so appears only as a depression c.2m wide across the open paddock. Therefore, it is considered to have low amenity values. Other remaining sections of the race that will not be affected around the southern edge of Winner Hill are in better condition as a visible earth channel used as part of a walking track on publicly accessible land. Cultural associations The Low Level Water Race is a European archaeological site. Given the long mining legacy and celebration of late 19th and early 20th century mining history within Waihi today it is possible that the community does have some association with the site. Only part of the race is publicly accessible along a walking track around Winner Hill. Other The Low Level Water Race has historical, technological values and physical attributes : Historical: The place has historical value due to its association with colonial gold mining within the Waihi gold field. Associated with the Martha Mine it was constructed on 1989-1890 to supply water from the Ohinemuri River to the new Waihi battery at the base of Union Hill. The race operated until 1913. It reflects representative aspects of local history, and is associated with an early period of European industry and exploitation within the western Bay of Plenty and New Zealand. Technology: Water races are not uncommon locally. Technologically it has value because it retains much of its original alignment, although it is highly modified in places and no longer a working engineering structure. Physical attributes: The site is a fair representative example of an open channel water race. Its condition varies from sections that have been destroyed, to highly modified sections visible only as an infilled depression, to a visible earth channel with some original profile. Table 9. Assessment of the historic heritage values of the Low Level Water Race T13/817 based on the RPS criteria (Section 10A) Value Historic Heritage Assessment Historic Qualities This site is associated with the wider historical events, people and mining companies that form the rich history of colonial gold mining in Waihi. Built in 1889-1890, it was constructed to supply water to the Waihi Battery on Union Hill. It reflects representative aspects of local history, and is associated with an early period of European industry and exploitation within the western Bay of Plenty and New Zealand. Architectural Qualities There are no surviving architectural qualities. Technological/ Scientific Qualities Water races are part of what were often very complex hydraulic systems. The technology of their design and construction was introduced from the Californian and Australian gold-fields but the
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