Landscape modelling of a protected cultural landscape: Kura Tāwhiti Conservation Area

Protecting culturally significant sites has become an increasingly recognised undertaking as seen with the increase in the number of listed UNESCO World Heritage cultural sites from 563 in 2002 to 897 in 2021. Landscape architects, planners, environmental scientists and other consultants are involved with the management of these resources and creating accurate landscape models of these can contribute to informing decision making. In the Aotearoa, New Zealand context, one of these levels of protection, Tōpuni, is unique and has been designated as such by the indigenous Māori people. This designation has been placed on 14 sites and for this research, Kura Tāwhiti Conservation Area was selected due to its distinct limestone landforms and the risk of negative impact due to increased tourist visitor numbers. An accurate 3D landscape model of the Kura Tāwhiti Conservation Area was created using aerial an UAV survey and land-based 3D laser scanning. The landscape modelling exercise is the first of any tōpuni site and provides a set of tools for decision makers. The benefits of such a landscape model for this culturally significant and protected conservation area include the potential for further analysis by other professionals of the landforms, being used in accurate visualisations for future scenarios, and providing a benchmark for changes over time