About 18 months into the programme, backed by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, Ngai Tahu Maori Rock Art Trust curator Amanda Symon said work was proceeding on establishing what sort of buffer zone could be created around protected sites to mitigate the effects of changes in water management.
There were about 280 rock art sites between Duntroon and Oamaru, with the majority on private land.
One of the sites is on State Highway 83 and is owned by Geoff and Jan Keeling. Mr Keeling supports the project and its aim of preserving culturally significant sites.
He and his partner believed in preserving the heritage area on their property so they were leaving something for future generations
``We're just caretakers.''
Ms Symon said there were myriad issues impacting the art sites, as the majority were located on limestone, a soft rock which moisture moved through.
``The conservation site is not so much the art but the canvas itself.''
The project focused on the fact the limestone surface was vulnerable to natural and human processes, particularly those relating to water.
The impact of water removal or extraction through actions such as irrigation and discharges to land was being examined as was looking at establishing what the safe distances between such activities and the rock art could be.
She said working with land owners was important and the project was about protecting their sites.
``That's our job''.
``Our focus is on the management and protection.''
The North Otago sites were ``really unique and special aspects of Maori heritage''.
