In Search of Lost Time

Abstract

This thesis proposes that, while decaying architectural artefacts can represent important chapters in our nation’s heritage, transformations to the New Zealand landscape often represent equally important chapters in our heritage. Both can be understood as resulting from the intervention of mankind. The stories of mankind’s transformations to the New Zealand landscape, when recognised by New Zealanders, can have an important impact in enhancing our heritage awareness as well as helping to prevent negative impacts in the future.

How can enhancing our awareness of New Zealand ‘landscape heritage’ help us better understand our natural landscape environment while helping to preserve our future ‘heritage’ as well? How can landscape architecture help bring heritage stories to life such that the benefits derived from each story can be remembered, while the negative aspects can be ameliorated and also serve as vital reminders?

The site selected for this research investigation is Arapaoa Island in the Marlborough Sounds, which has played a role in many defining periods of New Zealand’s history. Once a settlement for Maori, it saw two eras of colonial whaling, played a role in WWII and currently continues to be farmed as it has for many decades. With such rich history the island is scattered with architectural remnants that serve as reminders of its importance. Due to land development and subsequent erosion these sites are in various states of decay.

This thesis investigates ways to strategically enhance awareness of New Zealand landscape heritage through the themes of Regeneration, Landscape as Timepiece and Map, Points of Pause, and Curation. These themes help address the principal aim of the thesis: to discover ways to enhance our awareness of New Zealand stories relating to place – and in so doing, to help us understand both our New Zealand heritage and our New Zealand environment. Mankind touches the environment even when architecture is not built upon it; that touch often has both positive and negative effects. The more we learn about these effects, the more we can help preserve for future generations what is truly important.