The Oamaru Whitestone Civic Trust yesterday gave Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga (HNZ) formal assent to include its 15 buildings in the Harbour St-Tyne St area — forming the Oamaru Victorian Precinct — in a proposal for National Historic Landmark status for historic Oamaru.
If the government approves, the area will join the ranks of the Treaty of Waitangi grounds.
Waitangi at this point is the sole site with the status.
The trust’s approval follows the formal tick this week by the landowner behind the trust’s buildings, the Waitaki District Council.
"We weren’t sure if it would get over the line with council," trust property manager Jacob Barwick said yesterday .
The district council is also a significant heritage stakeholder for Oamaru, its holdings including its headquarters in the former Oamaru chief post office and the Waitaki Archive and Museum, and it administers the Oamaru Victorian Harbour.
Mr Barwick said the next step to achieve landmark status over the entire area was for HNZ to present the case to the Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage.
A decision was expected by next year.
"It is an important document for us because it actually means that HNZ can get on with it.
"Now that we’ve signed it the procedure is it goes to HNZ to be signed off then on to the Minister of Arts, Culture and Heritage."
Mr Barwick said it recognised 40 years "of hard work" in the community.
The trust formed its subsequent work to preserve and promote the significant heritage fabric of the town.
"It was the civic trust that started the preservation of Oamaru when the trust bought this part of town."
Trust chairman Richard Vinbrux said they were excited the council had finally approved and again underlined the crucial value of the trust’s work.
"Without the work of the trust Oamaru would be a very, very different place."
Trust vice-chairman Graeme Clark, involved for the trust’s entire 35-year life, said personally signing off the landmark process was for him "very significant".
It really recognised "a legacy" of countless hours and effort by many volunteers and staff over more than three decades to enhance what now put Oamaru on the map.
"It is a legacy for the work."
Mr Barwick said the landmark status process had been under way since November 2022, HNZ, the trust and the district council driving it.
He paid particular tribute to council heritage adviser Dr Mark Smith and Sarah Gallagher of HNZ for their work to advance the application.
