World heritage sites

Last week, UNESCO accepted the bid for Taputapuatea marae to become a world heritage site after nearly two decades of campaigning.

The marae complex is about 1000 years old and is seen as the point of origin for Polynesian seafarers who travelled to Rapa Nui, Hawai'i and New Zealand.

Otago University's Paul Tapsell said the site had always been significant and connected the people of the Pacific.

Greenhouse gas emission should be to levels that would keep global temperature increases to just 1.5C, the UN agency responsible for overseeing world heritage sites has said.