A World Heritage Workshop is planned for delegates from Pacific Island nations in Tongariro National Park, New Zealand. This is a follow up to the 2004 workshop where the Pacific 2009 Action Plan was developed.

The intention and objectives of the workshop are to:

  • Develop a Pacific position paper to be presented at the 31st session of the World Heritage Committee meeting in Christchurch, New Zealand; discuss progress with the 2009 Action Plan; and hold practical capacity-building workshops for participants.
  • Develop a Communication Plan to showcase the natural and cultural heritage of the Pacific. This may involve the development of a website and publications, and developing a video presentation for the World Heritage Committee meeting showing highlights from the Tongariro workshop and illustrating the key themes and issues for World Heritage in the Pacific.
  • Assist each Pacific country in reviewing its own progress toward the enhancement of World Heritage and highlighting its priorities.
  • Workshop the theme of Indigineity as it applies to ‘Outstanding Universal Value of World Heritage in the Pacific'.
  • Discuss specific opportunities for the application of serial sites in the Pacific.

The event will be jointly hosted by the Department of Conservation (DOC) New Zealand and Department of Environment and Heritage (DEH) in Australia.