The law governing the New Zealand Historic Places Trust is to be updated.
Arts and Culture Minister Chris Finlayson says the Historic Place Act will be modernised to improve the balance between heritage, private ownership interest and economic development.
The maximum time frames for archaeological consenting will be shortened and the process for proposals that only have a minor effect on archaeology will be a simplified.
Mr Finlayson says the Maori Heritage Council's role has been expanded and it will now be consulted on all applications to modify archaeological sites that are of interest to Maori.
The Historic Places Trust will also be renamed Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga.