Wreck treasure hunters face tough penalties

This diver had legitimate reasons to be diving on the Ventnor, but fears that the wreck was being pillaged was a factor in the site being protected by Heritage NZ. Photo / Supplied

Rumours that divers were removing artifacts from the wreck of the Ventnor spurred Heritage New Zealand to rush through protection for the site earlier this year.

Until recently the wreck's depth, at 140m about 20km off shore, had made it safe from interference.

Word that specialist dive crews were visiting the wreck prompted Rawene woman Wong Liu Shueng - with support from the miners' descendants, iwi and Maritime NZ - to persuade Heritage NZ (formerly the NZ Historic Places Trust) to fast-track legal protection for the site.

Pre-1900 archaeological sites are automatically protected in New Zealand, but the Ventnor sank in 1902.

Legal protection for the wreck under the Heritage NZ Pouhere Taonga Act 2014 came into force in May.

Heritage NZ Northland manager Bill Edwards said the Act made it an offence to interfere with, damage or destroy any part of the wreck without permission.

People could still visit and look at the wreck, but the penalties for removing artifacts were "pretty severe''.

The maximum fine for modifying an archaeological site is $60,000 for a person and $120,000 for a company; the fines for destroying an archaeological site are $150,000 and $300,000.

The wreck was important because it explained the valuable contribution Chinese made to New Zealand history.

"It's also a memorial to those hard-working men,'' he said.

It is believed that video footage of objects being removed from the wreck was filmed before legal protection came into effect. It was suggested the artifacts could be sent to a museum in China.

However, anyone who wants to export them would first have to prove legal ownership; then apply to the Ministry for Culture and Heritage to see whether the objects were protected or would be a loss to New Zealand heritage.