Crown pastoral land activity data

We manage approximately 1.2 million hectares of Crown pastoral land, including 156 pastoral leases. Find out about applications for consent to undertake activities on a Crown pastoral lease.

Information about applications and consents

Toitū Te Whenua Land Information New Zealand manages approximately 1.2 million hectares of Crown pastoral land in the South Island high country, including 156 pastoral leases, on behalf of the Crown.

Written consent is required from the Commissioner of Crown Lands or their delegates, prior to undertaking some activities on a Crown pastoral lease ('discretionary activities').

A new consents regime came into effect on 17 November 2022 to support the implementation of the reforms to the Crown Pastoral Land Act. The changes introduced in November are intended to enable greater protection of the inherent values of this iconic land and provide increased transparency of how it is being managed.

Information on applying for activity on Crown pastoral land

Leaseholders of Crown pastoral land can apply to carry out a range of activities. These are divided into 'discretionary' activities, which are pastoral activities that require written consent, and 'permitted' activities, which do not require written consent.

Leaseholders are provided a Notice of Decision once the Commissioner of Crown Lands or the delegated decision maker has considered an application.

Read our information for leaseholders

Application decision summaries

Summaries of Crown pastoral land application decisions are available on our Decisions page:

Decisions

Crown pastoral land application data

We publish a monthly snapshot of data relating to applications for discretionary activities on Crown pastoral land, and other applications like recreation permits, transfers and subleases, and easements.

In the lead-up to Crown Pastoral Land Act reforms in November 2022, we received an expected increase in the number of applications of activity from leaseholders. We are prioritising applications based on urgency, complexity of activity and where they require lease visits or extra technical support.

Applications received prior to 17 November 2022 are being processed according the previous regime, under the Crown Pastoral Land Act 1998 and Land Act 1948, and those received from 17 November 2022 are being processed according to the new regime, under the Crown Pastoral Land Reform Act 2022.

Our pastoral specialists are continuing with planned lease inspections and administering the pastoral estate. If an application has been received, they will be processed as part of their inspection.

Crown pastoral land activity – data snapshots

Snapshot of Crown pastoral land activity data as at 29 February 2024

Crown pastoral land activity applications received before 17 November 2022

Applications processed under the Crown Pastoral Land Act 1998 and Land Act 1948.

Application statusTotal
Received403*
Active215
Complete153
Withdrawn** / written approval not needed26

* Updated February 2024: We identified a discrepancy in some numbers previously reported due to a change in how applications were classified when the reporting was analysed.

** Applications have been withdrawn in consultation with Applicants. This may be because they are now permitted activities from 17 November 2022, the activity is already provided for under an existing consent, or the Applicant considers the activity is no longer required.

Application outcome of those completedTotal
Granted72%
Granted in part23%
Declined5%

Activity breakdown of active applications

Active applications in February 2024

Crown pastoral land activity applications received from 17 November 2022

Applications processed under the Crown Pastoral Land Reform Act 2022
Application statusTotal
Received59
Active23
Complete33
Withdrawn*** / written approval not needed5

*** Applications have been withdrawn in consultation with Applicants. This may be because they are now permitted activities from 17 November 2022, the activity is already provided for under an existing consent, or the Applicant considers the activity is no longer required.

Activity breakdown of all applications received from 17 November 2022
Application typeTotal
Commercial recreation permit31
Transfer and subleases12
Easement7
Discretionary pastoral activity9

Of those completed

Application statusTotal
Granted96%
Granted in partN/A
Declined4%
Last updated