Two Maori rock art sites near Duntroon in the Waitaki Valley may be given greater protection under a proposal by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust to list them as historic areas.
If listed, it would be the first time the Maerewhenua historic area, on the Livingstone-Duntroon Rd, had appeared on the trust register.
Registration of the second site - the Takiroa Maori rock art site just west of Duntroon, already listed as a category 2 historic place - would be broadened.
Both have been publicly advertised by the trust for listing as historic areas.
Submissions on both proposals close on June 6 in Wellington.
Once these had been received, the trust's board would decide whether to list the sites.
The trust has a register for historic places, with categories including buildings, structures and sites.
Listing as an historic site would recognise a specified surrounding area which would help protect the site as well as the Maori rock art itself.
The trust becomes involved when developments that may affect a historic place or site are being considered.
There are 111 historic sites listed by the trust.
