Archaeologists wanting to dig up manmade relics may have their waiting time cut by two-thirds as the Government moves to make the consent process more efficient.
Currently it can take up 120 days to obtain consent to unearth anything that was made before 1900, but the Ministry for Culture & Heritage wants this timeframe reduced to a maximum of 40 days.
The ministry also wants to remove the need to assess minor artefacts, saving between $1000-$3000 per assessment.
The changes, which follow a review of the Historic Places Act, will be put before Parliament later this year.
