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The Ashburton Chinese market garden settlement’s historical importance was recognised yesterday. PHOTO HEATHER MACKENZIE 070719-HM-0128
Archaeologically A peek at Parliament significant site P3
Wakanui up against P15 it
The historical significance of Ashburton’s Chinese market garden settlement was officially recognised yesterday. Under the Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga Act 2014 the settlement has been declared an archaeologically significant site, one of only a handful of post 1900 sites in New Zealand to receive this declaration. The former Chinese market garden settlement was established in 1921 and the declaration will strengthen protection for the site. The Ng King Chinese Market Garden Settlement on Allens Road is considered to be the only remaining set of Chinese settlement buildings associated with early 20th Century market gardening in New Zealand. Although some of the original buildings have been removed or demolished, the core of the settlement remains standing, including an outdoor pig roasting oven which was restored in 2013. Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga senior archeologist, Frank van der Heijden, said the site was a rare and
probably unique example of a Chinese market garden settlement in New Zealand that still had much of its fabric intact. “There is the potential to learn a huge amount from this site, and I am very grateful to the families for their help while I was working on the archaeological assessment,” he said. The declaration was a special moment for the descendants of the settlements owner, the Ng King families and for the wider community, mayor Donna Favel said. “It is a momentous achievement for the protection and preservation of the market garden. This settlement is a unique reminder of a once-flourishing business, the 20th Century Chinese immigrants who drove it, and the important contribution they made to the Ashburton community and wider Canterbury region,” she said. Buildings in the settlement are already protected under the council’s district plan but the whole site would now have protection and that meant any
earthworks or proposals to develop the land would require permission from us along with the landowners. Descendants of the five original settlement land owners have retained ownership of the site, which is now managed by the council. It has been actively working to preserve and restore the site, under the guidance of the Chinese Settlement Working Group. This group would now have greater clarity around management of the site, working group chair Leen Braam said. “The declaration will help to inform our management decisions moving forward, and may also assist with any future funding applications to restore the buildings. Today’s declaration is a terrific outcome for the Chinese market garden and confirms its significance to the history of Chinese settlement in our district and New Zealand in general,” he said. Declaration under the act is decided by the Board of Heritage New Zealand, after carrying out extensive investigation and consultation.
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