July 2021 Waihi North Project – Historical & Archaeological Background 1 INTRODUCTION Project Background Oceana Gold (New Zealand) Ltd (OGNZL) is proposing to extend the Waihi mine activities by developing additional resources, which is named ‘Waihi North Project’ (Figure 1; Figure 3). A heritage impact assessment was commissioned by OGNZL to establish whether the proposed Waihi North Project is likely to impact on historic heritage values. This report has been prepared as part of the required assessment of effects accompanying a resource consent application under the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA) and for the purpose of an application for an Authority to modify various archaeological sites under the Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga Act 2014 (HNZPTA). Recommendations are made in accordance with statutory requirements. The heritage impact assessment has been divided into two parts: • Part 1 historical and archaeological background – outlining the historical background research for the general area; and, • Part 2 historic heritage assessment – identification of historic heritage places impacted by Waihi North Project; potential positive and adverse effects; and, mitigation of effects on historic heritage values within the project area. Methodology This Part 1 report provides the historical background and summary of archaeological and built heritage investigations in the general area of Waihi North Project. It informs the Part 2 Waihi North Project report (Tatton and Clough 2021) so that the effects on historic heritage values are assessed against a robust evidence base. The NZAA site record database (ArchSite), Hauraki District Plan schedule and the Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga (Heritage NZ) New Zealand Heritage List were searched for information on sites recorded in the vicinity. Literature and archaeological reports relevant to the area were consulted (see Bibliography). Plans, maps and photographs from collections such as the Sir George Grey Special Collections (Auckland Libraries), Auckland War Memorial Museum, Alexander Turnbull Library, Archives New Zealand, and Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) were searched for relevant material to the project area. Certificates of Title and Residence or Business Site Licenses were searched through LINZ and Archives New Zealand to establish ownership of specific sites in the project area. Aerial photographs dating to 1942 and historical plans were also examined (and compared to present day aerials) to establish past activities within the project area that may no longer be extant. Archaeological sites beneath buildings and sealed surfaces (such as in Waihi town) can rarely be identified prior to being exposed in the course of redevelopment work, and the approach to archaeological assessment in these more urban environments is therefore to identify historically recorded activities on the site, and assess the potential for archaeological evidence to have survived on the basis of later modifications to the site.
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