Image-only instruments – uploading documents correctly in Legacy Landonline

Image-only instruments are scanned and uploaded into Landonline. When they are registered, they become part of the land transfer register, and embody the rights and responsibilities described in the instrument. This means that land transfer instruments must be legible, both on screen and when printed.

Registration may be refused if it is impractical to capture the instrument in Landonline. Issues often arise when large files and PDF files are uploaded. Here's how to ensure your documents are uploaded correctly and can be viewed in Landonline.

Follow Landonline’s file size limits

Legacy Landonline allows up to 3 files to be attached to an instrument. These files are then merged to form the instrument. 

Each attachment should not be more than 10MB.

Only upload documents that are necessary to form part of the register

Keep the file size limit in mind when drafting image-only instruments. Avoid including other material like reports and photographs, etc. and colour / greyscale images unless these are  necessary for evidential purposes in connection with particular instruments (such as applications for adverse possession or accretion). 

Upload black and white TIFF files if possible

Legacy Landonline stores images as TIFF files. If your documents are saved as PDF files, we recommend you scan them into black and white TIFF files before uploading them to Landonline (adhering to file size limits).

Legacy Landonline will let you upload PDF files, which are then converted into TIFF files, but this can be problematic. 

  • PDFs may fail conversion due to variations in their format. High resolution scans and colour images often cause PDFs to fail conversion, even when converting to black and white or greyscale TIFFs. 
  • The file conversion may reduce the quality of the image.

Colour or greyscale TIFFS should only be uploaded where it’s necessary for evidential purposes, as noted above.

Registration may be refused

If, due to the file size or the nature of the material included with the instrument, it is impractical to capture the instrument’s data, registration may be refused under section 39(1)(a) of the Land Transfer Act 2017.

Landonline support

If, after following the above guidance, you need further support to upload your files you can call Customer Support on 0800 665 463 or email customersupport@linz.govt.nz 

Support is available in situations where:

  • you get errors when you convert the file
  • your PDF is blank after uploading, or
  • your image is low quality after uploading.

Further reading

Read our guidance on the best scanner settings to meet Legacy Landonline requirements

Read a step-by-step guide on how to scan documents and add them to your dealing in Legacy Landonline