New Structure Will Boost Relationships with Leaseholders

30 June 2008

LINZ is working to build and maintain more direct relationships with pastoral leaseholders and people who carry out activities in the high country.

Mathew Clark, manager of LINZ's Pastoral Unit, told lessees attending the annual Federated Farmers' high country committee conference in Wanaka that LINZ is committed to ensuring pastoral land continues to be well managed and in accordance with lease terms.

In changes implemented late last year, LINZ combined its tenure review and statutory land management teams into a single pastoral unit based in Christchurch.

Then in April this year, the pastoral unit took over as first point of contact for lessee enquiries, a role previously carried out by a service provider under an outsourcing model established in 2000.

Mathew said the rationale for the new approach was confirmation of the Government's willingness to remain a high country lessor indefinitely.

"Leases need to be managed in a way that is fair and lawful and reasonable for all parties, the Crown and the lessee.

"This means LINZ needed to take on a more hands-on role in day-to-day lease and licence management, particularly in the area of discretionary consents, because we're in it for the long haul," said Mathew

"We want direct, open and sound relationships with lease and licence holders and other parties who carry out activities on Crown pastoral land.

"We will be working more closely with lessee representative groups, as well as other stakeholders, and keeping lessees informed on key issues. We'll also be undertaking ongoing process and system improvement.

"Overall, this adds up to us being more responsive and more accessible to lessees, and will give us better information about activities on pastoral land."

As well as enabling one on one contact between LINZ and the lessee, the new approach should improve turnaround times for applications to carry out activities other than grazing, such as permits for commercial recreational activities.

"We'll be providing more guidance on applications and the supporting information required when an application is made, and keeping lessees informed about progress."

An important focus for the pastoral unit is ensuring that the rights of lessee and lessor are clearly understood. "We intend to work collaboratively to help ensure all parties understand terms and conditions and encourage compliance."

Mathew also outlined to lessees changes to the contracting model LINZ uses for pastoral lease management.

A panel of five service providers has been appointed to supply a range of operational services and advice relating to lease and licence management, property inspections, valuations, applications for consent and other miscellaneous activities.

Work will be allocated to service providers on a case by case basis. This will allow LINZ to maintain control of all activities and processes.

In addition to the panel, Lakes Property Services have been contracted to carry out lease and licence administration services such as invoicing and lease renewals.

Mathew also reported on a project to review whether pastoral leases are being managed with 'good husbandry', and whether discretionary consents are being issued in accordance with the Crown Pastoral Land Act and the Land Act.

"We reviewed a sample of our pastoral lease inspections and we found that in general land is being managed well and leaseholders are meeting their obligations to be good husbands of the land. We also found that consents being issued comply with the law."

LINZ is being increasingly proactive in directly monitoring compliance with indicators of good husbandry, and has instituted an ongoing pastoral lease inspection programme that aims to inspect around 50 leases per year.

"We're currently in the process of gathering information on all consents dating back to 1985. This information will then be more readily able to be used for future decision-making and general land management."