More work needed before land record decision

9 July 2002

More work needs to be done before a decision on further access to Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) paper land records can be made, Minister for Land Information, Matt Robson says.

"The Cabinet considered that more analysis needed to be done across Government on where original paper records are kept once an agency no longer needs them.

"A decision on the siting of any original Government records that an agency no longer needs, sets a precedent: it affects the whole of Government, not just LINZ.

"For that reason Cabinet has deferred a decision on options for copying LINZ paper records while Archives New Zealand and LINZ investigate the current and intended laws and policies that relate to the siting of, and access to, original paper Government records," says Matt Robson.

Matt Robson says that Archives and LINZ will also look at how access to original Government records will be funded.

"Increasing access channels to Government records will require additional funding. The Government needs to be satisfied that spending is efficient and consistent across Government."

Archives, in conjunction with LINZ, will report to Cabinet at the end of September 2002.

The LINZ copying records project looked at access channels for LINZ paper land records - records not available online - for communities in former Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) branch office areas (New Plymouth, Gisborne, Napier, Nelson, Hokitika, Blenheim, Invercargill). Options included copying land records by photocopying or electronic means.

For further information please contact:

Michael Mead,
LINZ Senior Communications Adviser.
Ph: (04) 498 3516
fax: (04) 472 1864
mmead@linz.govt.nz

Josie Harbutt,
Minister's Press Secretary
Ph (04) 470 6676,
mob. 021 588 860

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