Our role in biosecurity and biodiversity.

Toitū Te Whenua Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) is responsible for managing around 2 million hectares of Crown land and waterways across New Zealand. These include some of the country’s most iconic and ecologically significant landscapes, such as the braided rivers of the South Island, the lakes of Queenstown and Waitaki, and major waterbodies across Te Ika-a-Māui / North Island, including the Te Arawa Lakes in Rotorua and Lake Karapiro on the Waikato River.

A key part of protecting these areas is controlling pests and weeds. Many of the lands and waterways we manage are under threat from invasive plants and animals. If left unchecked, pest plants can overrun habitats for native birds, fish and plants, including those underwater, and can also affect recreational use, cultural sites and pastoral land.

Find out more about this work:

Need to know about spraying and pest control work?

Current and upcoming control work

We work closely with local councils, iwi, community groups, landowners and other government agencies to develop and deliver a coordinated biosecurity programme that protects these important places now and into the future.

Legislation

LINZ is committed to being compliant landowners under the Biosecurity Act 1993, the legislation that sets out New Zealand’s biosecurity responsibilities. The Act is administered by the Ministry for Primary Industries which leads and coordinates national biosecurity efforts. 

Biosecurity Act 1993

The Land Act 1948 governs most of the land we manage. Under this legislation, the Commissioner of Crown Lands (CCL) is responsible for the biosecurity of LINZ-administered Crown land. The CCL has delegated this responsibility to LINZ.

The Land Act 1948

Find out more

Contact Kōrero whakapā

Got a query about Crown property? 

Contact the Crown property team