The New Zealand Historic Places Trust (NZHPT) has proposed that the Aniwaniwa Visitor Centre on the edge of Lake Waikaremoana receives Category 1 heritage registration.

Formerly called Urewera National Park Visitor Centre, the facility was designed in the early 1970s by John Scott - one of the country's foremost Maori architects who died in 1992.

However, the Department of Conservation-owned building was forced to close in 2010 due to its unsafe condition and efforts are now being taken to preserve the property.

NZHPT heritage adviser Blyss Wagstaff said: "Category 1 status is given to places of special or outstanding historical or cultural heritage significance or value.

"The former Visitor Centre has very special aesthetic, architectural, cultural, historical and social significance which makes it a historic place of outstanding heritage value."

Click here to read more about proposals for the Category 1 registration of the visitor centre and click here for more information about John Scott's design.