A Place to Stand

This report explores the catastrophic loss of New Zealand’s special places to inappropriate subdivision and development.  It follows on from Reclaiming Our Heritage: the New Zealand Landscape Conference that was held in July 2003.  That event began to scope the scale of the problem and highlight some of the key issues.  This report builds on that base and provides the first comprehensive look at the impact of the loss of landscape on our cultural identity and economic well-being.

We hope that this report will stimulate debate and raise the profile of this important issue.  Above all, we need to address the legislative framework and its failings.  A National Policy Statement would strengthen the Resource Management Act, and additional action is canvassed in the report.