High Country Background & Policy
No new pastoral leases are available.
South Island high country grazing land has been leased or licensed by the Crown to farmers since the 1850s. Today LINZ administers a large amount of Crown pastoral land. Check the status and location of Crown pastoral land.
About Crown pastoral land types
Crown pastoral land is made up of pastoral leases, pastoral occupation licences and special leases. more...
Strategic direction for Crown pastoral land
The strategic direction for Crown pastoral land describes the Government's approach to management of this land. more...
Review of pastoral lease rent valuation methodologies
In July 2005, a panel of valuers was commissioned to review pastoral lease rental and tenure review valuation methodologies and outcomes associated with pastoral lands. The final valuers report and the final Government response were released on 15 November 2007. more...
Exclusive possession of pastoral lease land
On 12 May 2009 the High Court issued a judgment on the right of pastoral leaseholders to exclusive possession of pastoral lease land, after a hearing conducted in Wellington on 26 March 2009. Read the the judgment (pdf 112.40KB).
Related information: Crown Law opinion (14 March 2008) Pastoral leases - exclusive possession (pdf 465KB).
