Oamaru Whitestone Civic Trust chairman Richard Vinbrux said the trust was delighted the precinct had been nominated and urged people to get behind it.
"This recognition reflects the unique built heritage of Oamaru and the dedication of many locals over nearly 40 years. We encourage everyone to make a submission and show their support for this important recognition."
The Oamaru Historic Town Centre and Port was nominated for National Historic Landmark status this year.
The process is now at the formal public notification stage.
"We are asking people to take the next step and make an official submission on the proposal," Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga southern director Dr Christine Whybrew said.
The area, which is situated along the coastline and near inland waterways, has deep significance to Māori whose roots to the area predate the Oamaru colonial settlement by many centuries. Its location within an extensive network of kainga nohoanga (settlements) and kainga mahinga kai (cultivation and food-gathering sites) made it a central source of life and wellbeing for Māori.
The economic prosperity that built the Victorian-era town came at a great cost for local Māori, however, who experienced an almost complete transfer of wealth to the colonial settlers — and the loss of their mahinga kai.
"It’s important to acknowledge that loss as part of this process and remember that the Oamaru Historic Town Centre and Port — unique and impressive though it is — came at a cost," Dr Whybrew said.
She said being nominated for National Historic Landmark status was a significant honour.
"There are only two National Historic Landmarks in New Zealand — Te Pitowhenua/Waitangi Treaty Grounds and the National War Memorial at Pukeahu in Wellington. That’s an indication of how high the threshold is to qualify."
The Oamaru Whitestone Civic Trust owns 16 heritage buildings that form the core of the proposed landmark area and Mr Vinbrux confirmed the trust would retain ownership of the buildings if the landmark status was granted.
"The heritage precinct already attracts more than 140,000 visitors each year and this recognition will help increase that number while raising the trust’s national profile and highlighting the important role it plays in preserving Oamaru’s built heritage," Mr Vinbrux said.
"The work the trust is doing and the proposed listing just highlight how important but also undervalued heritage tourism is in New Zealand."
Waitaki mayor-elect Melanie Tavendale said gaining National Historic Landmark status would recognise the historic importance of the Oamaru town centre and port to the entire nation.
"To be placed alongside the Waitangi Treaty Grounds and National War Memorial at Pukeahu would raise the profile of our town and all it has to offer New Zealanders and overseas visitors.
"I know that Oamaruvians and Waitakians are fiercely proud of their place and I encourage them all to support this application and honour our special heritage."
The news comes less than a month out from the town’s annual Victorian Heritage Celebrations.
Oamaru Victorian Heritage Celebrations committee co-chairwomen Wendy Jones and Cyndi Christensen fully support the proposal.
"The Oamaru Victorian Heritage Celebrations committee are proud to support the National Historic Landmark status proposed for Oamaru Historic Town Centre and Port," they said in a statement.
"The stunning buildings and the history that surrounds them provides the Victorian Heritage Celebrations with a richness of period architecture and storytelling that otherwise would need to be fabricated and imagined."
The submission period runs until November 19.
