Find out more...Guide to Land Surveying & Title Registration

In New Zealand, we can be confident of our property rights because of the strong survey and legal framework supporting land ownership.

LINZ is responsible for providing and maintaining the certainty of private property ownership, by recording survey and land title information and by making this information available to support economic activity.

Moving to an electronic system

For more than 160 years, New Zealand's land records were managed under a paper system. Since 2002, LINZ's titles, survey plans and related documents have been held in an electronic database called Landonline.

Having accurate records of title transactions depends on accurate information about the land's features and boundaries. New Zealand's geodetic system provides the underlying measurements. Find out more about geodesy in New Zealand.

Cadastre

The records of property location and related information (including boundary dimensions) in New Zealand is called the cadastre. Landonline holds digital cadastral survey records for freehold, leasehold, Māori land and Crown land.

LINZ sets the cadastral survey rules, standards and guidelines for New Zealand's surveying profession through the Surveyor-General. Find out more about New Zealand's survey system and cadastral surveying.

How land subdivision works

Before a housing or commercial subdivision can be sold or developed, surveyors produce a cadastral survey plan. Survey plans show a property's legal boundaries, areas and dimensions. The local authority certifies the plan to verify that subdivisional requirements have been met. Requirements include provision of services such as roading and drainage.

The surveyor lodges the survey plan with LINZ for approval. LINZ deposits the survey plan as a legal document, cancels the existing title and issues a new title record for each new piece of land shown on the deposited plan.

How land title registration works

Conveyancers lodge legal documents with LINZ to record any changes made to titles - such as transfers of ownership, discharges of mortgage and new mortgages. LINZ records the transaction in the title record for that land.

LINZ develops standards and sets an assurance programme for the land rights registration system through the Registrar-General of Land.

Find out more about New Zealand's land title registration system.

Getting copies of property records

LINZ holds many land record types. Find the land record you want, order a copy of a land record or request to view paper records held by LINZ.