In 2018 the site of Whitaunui, the World War II Military Defaulters’ Camp near Shannon, was listed as a Schedule 2 heritage site in the District Plan of the Horowhenua District Council. The three defaulters’ camps in the Shannon district were Paiaka on Springs Road, the adjacent Tyrell’s Farm and Whitaunui on the Shannon Foxton Road. Whitaunui was selected as the heritage site because of its larger size, its archaeological remains and its historical significance in the earlier flax milling industry.

This document contains the nomination form as submitted by Historic Places Manawatu-Horowhenua and a section of "Supporting Information on Proposed Plan Change 1 - Technical Assessments of Buildings , Structures and Sites" (as specific to Witaunui) as prepared by Ian Bowman and Val Burr. Historic Places Manawatu Horowhenua were extremely supportive in working over several years for the acceptance of the Whitaunui site as a historic place.