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LINZ to Phase Out Paper Lodgement of Survey and Title Transactions

8 February 2006

Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) has welcomed Government's decision to phase out paper-based lodgement of land transactions, and says it is good news for New Zealanders buying, selling and subdividing property.

Land Information Minister Pete Hodgson today announced that the electronic Landonline system will be enhanced to enable all survey and land title transactions to be lodged electronically. By 1 July 2008 surveyors and conveyancers will be required to use Landonline to lodge all transactions.

"New Zealanders buying, selling and subdividing property will benefit from an efficient and secure automated process in which new titles will be issued faster," said Chief Executive Brendan Boyle.

Less paper handling will require LINZ to make changes to its processing operations over the next nine years. LINZ would begin consulting with staff and the Public Service Association (PSA) on the implications of moving to 100% electronic lodgement of survey and title transactions, Mr Boyle said.

"With fewer paper lodgements, the volume of manual processing work will decrease significantly. As e-lodgement increases, we are looking at reducing 112 positions, with most being gradually phased out over the next three years.

"A smaller workforce means we will no longer require five regional processing centres. Long term, we are proposing to retain two processing centres, in Hamilton and Christchurch. By 2015 we expect to have closed Dunedin, Wellington and Auckland centres."

LINZ staff and the PSA were briefed earlier today on the proposed changes. "We are committed to supporting staff throughout the process. Next week we will begin consultation on our proposal to implement 100% electronic lodgement and the change management process going forward, Mr Boyle said.

LINZ processes around 17,500 title and survey transactions a week, through the electronic Landonline system. Progressive improvements to Landonline, since it was introduced in 2000, have enabled conveyancers and surveyors to access land information and to lodge most of their transactions remotely. In December 2005, around 22 percent of e-capable title lodgements, and 37 percent of survey transactions, were lodged electronically.

"Continuing to run both a paper and an electronic system is uneconomic and would be more costly for LINZ and our customers in the long run. Moving to a fully electronic system is the only way to realise the benefits of Landonline," Mr Boyle said. "It is also consistent with Government's desire to deliver its services electronically."

To give customers time to prepare, 100% electronic lodgement will be phased in gradually, starting with discharges on 1 May 2007, transfers and mortgages on 1 August 2007, survey transactions on 1 September 2007, and all remaining title transactions, such as caveats and rights of way, on 1 July 2008.

Public counters in all processing centres will close from 1 July 2008. Members of the public wishing to obtain a copy of a title or survey plan could do so via other providers or via the Internet. LINZ was also developing and consulting on a strategy to manage access to its core paper records before the 2008 deadline.

To help conveyancers and surveyors make the transition, LINZ will provide free training to firms around the country and offer additional helpdesk support via its 0800 number to all its customers, Mr Boyle said.

For more information:

For further information please contact:

Tanya St George
Strategic Communications Manager
Land Information New Zealand
Private Box 5501
WELLINGTON
Ph: 04 498 3844
Mobile: 027 287 9403
Email: tstgeorge@linz.govt.nz

Keiran Bleach
Senior Communications Advisor
Land Information New Zealand
Private Box 5501
WELLINGTON
Ph: 04 496 5402
Mobile: 027 222 9566
Email: kbleach@linz.govt.nz

 

 
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