Historic Land Records Move from LINZ to Archives New Zealand

30 November 2009: Media release

Some of the oldest land records in New Zealand made an historic journey this morning when Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) marked their transfer from its Wellington office to Archives New Zealand for future storage and preservation.

LINZ Chief Executive Colin MacDonald and Archives New Zealand Acting Chief Executive Greg Goulding look at an old Crown land record.

The records include Crown Grants and the original Deeds records for the Wellington and Hawkes Bay land districts. Many of these are handwritten and have drawings of land blocks, and date back to when people first settled in Wellington.

All records – more than 1,500 in total – were blessed and farewelled at the LINZ office before three records were chosen to take to Archives New Zealand’s Wellington office as a symbol of the transfer of care. There, a pōwhiri welcomed LINZ staff on to the premises and the records to their new home.

The rest of the records will move from LINZ’s Wellington Processing Centre during the next three months before its closure in April 2010.

Crown Grants. Some of New Zealand's oldest land records.

LINZ Chief Executive Colin MacDonald said it was important to mark this special occasion, as LINZ has been recording the rights and entitlements of people and their relationship to land since the 1840s.

“These records are not only historically significant, they are also beautiful. LINZ and its predecessor departments have safeguarded these tāonga to date, so we know how important it is for them to have a good home.

“By transferring these unique records to Archives New Zealand we’re ensuring they are in the best hands possible, to be preserved and accessible for generations of New Zealanders, now and in the future.”

Archives New Zealand Acting Chief Executive Greg Goulding said the occasion demonstrated the collaboration between the two agencies to ensure the precious knowledge relating to New Zealand’s land and heritage was not lost.

Historic records in LINZ's Wellington office.

“Archives New Zealand is honoured to have Land Information New Zealand entrust these valuable records to us, and we will continue to look after them and provide a safe and secure environment for their long-term storage and access.

“We’ll keep working together to pass on knowledge of the records and how to interpret the information contained in them, so that their value as a historical document is maintained.”

Find out more about paper records moving and office closures.

Media enquiries: Rebecca Ward, Land Information New Zealand, phone +64 4 471 6330 or mobile +64 27 278 3968, email media@linz.govt.nz.