1. Cadastral Reform in New Zealand
Centenary of Federation Surveying and Mapping Conference
11-12 May 2001 Canberra
Cadastral Reform in New Zealand
Tony Bevin
Surveyor-General
Land Information New Zealand 1 1

2. Cadastre Reform in New Zealand
This paper takes the opportunity to present New Zealand achievements in Cadastral reform, in terms of FIG “Cadastre 2014”
It is presented in the New Zealand social and economic context, but there are no doubt many parallels with other jurisdictions

3. Role of the Cadastre
The Cadastre is a key link between society and the land, its use and its management
The dynamic nature of society imposes continuous change on the land - as a result of the interaction between society and the land, and the information generated
The Cadastre provides a framework to manage this interaction
It is at the same time both a transaction and an information system
serving both individual and community needs
providing certainty over long time frames

4. Benchmark for Cadastral Reform
Adopt the FIG Statement that “A successful Cadastre should
provide security of tenure
be simple and clear
be easily accessible
provide current and reliable information
all at low cost”

5. Changes Impacting on the New Zealand Cadastre
Computer Mapping and DCDB
Full Cost Recovery
Value Added Services
Rationalisation and transfer of Crown Land to private ownership
Government Restructuring
Integration of Survey and Land Title processes

6. Recent Strategic Drivers
Government Strategic Priorities, to improve economy, social equity and the environment
Privatisation or outsourcing some functions
Occupational de-regulation
Technology Developments and know-how
Growing demand for Spatial Information
Public demand for improved quality in Government services
Resource management
e-Government

7. Major Reform Initiatives
Cadastral Surveyor Accreditation
Occupational Regulatory Review
New Geodetic Datum
Survey and Title Automation (LandonLine)

8. Cadastral Surveyor Accreditation
Recognises regulatory and statutory responsibilities of surveyors
Government reliance and delegation
Greater use of audit to manage Crown’s risk
Accreditation reaffirms profession’s appreciation of responsibility

9. Occupational Regulatory Framework
Reduce costs (and risks) to consumers
Public interest and risk justified constraints of licensing
What is the most efficient application of regulation (in the Public Interest)
Analysed options to achieve by, - Surveyor-General, or - Professional Society, or - Separate Authority
Linkage of Accreditation, Occupational Regulation and Continuing Competency

10. Geodetic Strategy and New Datum
Strategic Review initiated
Major drivers were:
- limitations of existing datum
- need for a more accurate framework
- automation/conversion of survey records
- facilitate new technologies
NZGD2000 introduced on 1 January 2000
Geodetic data and processes fully integrated into LandonLine

11. Survey & Title Automation Landonline
The Vision
Information as a key strategic resource
Intelligent electronic record
Fully digital environment
The Goal
An Integrated and Automated
Survey & Title System

12. LandonLine Definition and Scope
The information required to perform
the core functions of the
Integrated Survey and Title business
(May be included in automated system some time in the future)
Sea Bed
Cadastre
Unregistered
Crown &
Maori Land
Title System
Electoral
System
Deeds
Reg.
(Not included in
automated system)
The areas in orange are included in Landonline
Other LINZ information may possibly be included sometime in the future:
Deeds Register
Unregistered Crown and Maori land
Seabed cadastre
Valuation data - not core LINZ information - is in the process of being transferred to local authorities
Cadastral Survey Fabric
Topo/Hydro
Geodetic Network

13. The Core Land Record LandonLine Model
People
Survey and Title System
Land

14. LandonLine - Entity Relationship Model

15. Landonline Key Features
Integration of Survey & Title processes
Integration of Geodetic and Cadastral
Continuous Parcel Based Map
Survey Accurate
Improved accessibility
Remote prevalidation and lodgement
Manages status of transaction
Records a variety of interests and and attributes
Electronic Register

16. Statement 1 Cadastre shows complete legal situation
Current Cadastre records ownership and private interests
Local Authorities and other agencies use DCDB as a base for separately recording own interests or information
Some integration, e.g. between Statistics NZ and LINZ for meshblocks and population statistics
With Automation future opportunity for more interactive sharing or exchange of information
Increasing interest in planning data at the parcel level
Concept is a publicly maintained base layer, available to other agencies to overlay or interact with

17. Statement 2 Separation Between Maps & Registers Abolished
Landonline integrates processes and information
Automates simpler business rules
Common spatial standard and system provides links between all tenure recording systems
Practitioners have direct access to data
Spatial generates the registration base (i.e. parcel)
New and integrated skills needed, at a higher level

18. Statement 3 Cadastral Modelling
The form of the map no longer limits design or content
Database is structured to support many views and accesses
Automatically links spatial and textual data
Able to be updated with new data, whilst retaining original dimensions
Contains survey observations and dimensions linked to a modern geodetic system
Digital Data Extract by layers or themes
A truly real- scale real- time spatial database

19. Statement 4 Paper & Pencil Cadastre Gone
Traditional role of the plan changes:
from a medium of recording and transfer
to a view of the data
Importance of digital formats to transfer data from surveyors system to Landonline
Interim - continue to use plan and capture from plan into the database
Phase 2 (2002) - digital transfer option
Represents a fundamental change in thinking
System demands a high level of data integrity

20. Statement 5 Privatised, Public & Private Sector Roles
Current system is a partnership with shared responsibility between Government and Private Sector
LINZ provides strategic and regulatory infrastructure, processes, and information systems
Private sector involved in all aspects of land subdivision
Existing recognition of Surveyors role is privatisation of a statutory function
Surveyor is acting for the Crown as well as the Client
Practitioners ability to directly transact with the database in effect extends privatisation

21. Statement 6 Cost Recovery
Cadastral system fully funded by fees on transactions
Titles transaction depend on and benefit from survey record
Resurvey usually not needed, can rely on the record
Therefore titles transactions fees also contribute to survey control and maintenance, as well as to registration
Government policy that information already paid for should recover dissemination costs only
Broader economic benefits recognised

22. Conclusions
The New Zealand Cadastre is already well on the road to Cadastre 2014
The major opportunity is in an online digital multi-purpose spatial database
linked to other data and processes
recording all rights, restrictions and transactions
Growing interest in population, asset, hazard and environmental data at the parcel or street address level
Growing demand for more effective management of land resources
Growing recognition by Government of e-commerce and interaction of information systems

23. Future Reform Direction
Situation
Traditional role focussed on individual and private rights
Increasingly constrained or influenced by community and environmental interests
Increasing competition for land resource use
Survey and Title part of resource management process

24. Future Reform Direction
Issues and Opportunities
How do we apply traditional proven concepts and system to needs of wider resource management
Technology and environmental issues creating a demand for information i.e. (have the problem and the tools - but where is the data?)
Reform opportunity for the Cadastre - provide the transaction and recording processes - provide the information system

25. Role of the Cadastre Macro Level
Aggregates and integrates of land parcels and attributes
Provides a framework for:
recording and integrating data
land and asset management decisions
managing and accessing information
Enables efficiency and reduces risk in land information and resource management

26. Role of the Cadastre Micro Level
Identify and define areas of land for individual owners or interests
Creates an asset, with rights and interests assigned and recorded
Ensures public confidence and efficiency in land transactions (minimises risk and cost)
Provides data for creating a transaction

27. Landonline Tenures and Records Spatially Managed
Fee Simple and other Land Transfer Interests
Public and Crown Land
Maori Land
Covenants and Easements
Mining Rights
Marine Licenses
Hazardous and Contaminated Sites
Street Address