Public Works Act 1981 No 35 (as at 01 August 2008), Public Act

Reprint
as at 1 August 2008

Public Works Act 1981

Public Act1981 No 35
Date of assent3 October 1981

Note

Changes authorised by section 17C of the Acts and Regulations Publication Act 1989 have been made in this eprint.

A general outline of these changes is set out in the notes at the end of this eprint, together with other explanatory material about this eprint.

This Act is administered in Land Information New Zealand


Contents

Title

Preliminary

5  [Repealed]

6  [Repealed]

7  [Repealed]

8  [Repealed]

9  [Repealed]

10  [Repealed]

11  [Repealed]

12  [Repealed]

13  [Repealed]

14  [Repealed]

15  [Repealed]

Acquisition by agreement

Compulsory acquisition of land

Extending estates in land that may be acquired or taken

Miscellaneous provisions

Defining middle line of road or railway

Preliminary

Entitlement

Additional compensation

The claim

The award

121 Interpretation [Repealed]

Damage to and nuisances on roads

137A  [Repealed]

138  [Repealed]

139  [Repealed]

140  [Repealed]

141  [Repealed]

142  [Repealed]

143  [Repealed]

144  [Repealed]

145  [Repealed]

146  [Repealed]

147  [Repealed]

148  [Repealed]

149  [Repealed]

150  [Repealed]

151  [Repealed]

152  [Repealed]

152A  [Repealed]

153  [Repealed]

154  [Repealed]

155  [Repealed]

156  [Repealed]

157  [Repealed]

158  [Repealed]

159  [Repealed]

160  [Repealed]

161  [Repealed]

162  [Repealed]

163  [Repealed]

New Zealand Railways Corporation railways

Local railways and tramways

185A  [Repealed]

186  [Repealed]

187  [Repealed]

187A  [Repealed]

188  [Repealed]

189  [Repealed]

Artificial lakes

Secondary use

194  [Repealed]

195  [Repealed]

201  [Repealed]

225A  [Repealed]

245  [Repealed]

246  [Repealed]


An Act to consolidate and amend the law relating to public works

BE IT ENACTED by the General Assembly of New Zealand in Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

1 Short Title and commencement
  • (1) This Act may be cited as the Public Works Act 1981.

    (2) This Act shall come into force on the 1st day of February 1982.

Preliminary

2 Interpretation
  • In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,—

    Aerodrome means any defined area of land or water intended or designed to be used either wholly or partly for the landing, departure, movement, and servicing of aircraft; and includes any buildings, installations, roads, and equipment on or adjacent to any such area used in connection with the aerodrome or its adminstration; and also includes any defined air space required for the safe operation of aircraft using the aerodrome; and also includes a military airfield

    Airport authority has the same meaning as in the Airport Authorities Act 1966

    Airport authority: this definition was inserted, as from 18 December 1986, by section 9 Airport Authorities Amendment Act 1986 (1986 No 128).

    Chief Surveyor means the Chief Surveyor appointed for the land district in which is situated any land to be dealt with under this Act; and includes his deputy

    Construction and execution, in relation to a work, include the establishment, constitution, operation, maintenance and undertaking of the work; and construct and execute have corresponding meanings

    Crown land means all land included within that term in the Land Act 1948, except lands held or occupied by any person under the Crown on deferred payment, occupation with right of purchase, perpetual lease, lease in perpetuity, renewable lease, or under any other kind of lease or licence, or for any other estate or interest

    Defence work means—

    • (a) Any naval establishment, army camp, or air force base:

    • (b) Any arsenal and any other structure or place used for the purpose of constructing, repairing, making, or storing munitions or equipment for or belonging to the Armed Forces:

    • (c) Any other fortification, camping ground, training ground, parade ground, rifle, artillery, tank, weapon, or bomb range, or other work however designated which is constructed or intended to be used for the purpose of defence, and all roads or other works which may be requisite for approach to or otherwise necessary or convenient for the purposes of any such defence work:

    District Land Registrar means the District Land Registrar of the district within which any land to be dealt with or affected is situated; and includes the Registrar of Deeds of that district

    Drain means a passage, channel, or pipe on, over, or under the ground for the reception and discharge of stormwater or pollutants, whether continuously or intermittently

    Environment Court means the Environment Court constituted under the Resource Management Act 1991

    Environment Court: this definition was inserted, as from 2 September 1996, for the definition of the term Planning Tribunal pursuant to section 6(2)(a) Resource Management Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 160).

    Essential work

    [Repealed]

    Essential work: this definition was repealed, as from 31 March 1987, by section 2(1) Public Works Amendment Act (No 2) 1987 (1987 No 67).

    Government work means a work or an intended work that is to be constructed, undertaken, established, managed, operated, or maintained by or under the control of the Crown or any Minister of the Crown for any public purpose; and includes land held or to be acquired for the purposes of the Conservation Act 1987 or any of the Acts specified in Schedule 1 to that Act (except the public foreshore and seabed), even where the purpose of holding or acquiring the land is to ensure that it remains in an undeveloped state

    Government work: this definition was substituted, as from 31 March 1987, by section 2(2) Public Works Amendment Act (No 2) 1987 (1987 No 67).

    Government work: this definition was amended, as from 10 April 1990, by section 37 Conservation Law Reform Act 1990 (1990 No 31) by inserting the words ; and includes land held or to be acquired for the purposes of the Conservation Act 1987 or any of the Acts specified in Schedule 1 to that Act, even where the purpose of holding or acquiring the land is to ensure that it remains in an undeveloped state.

    Government Work: this definition was amended, as from 25 November 1994, by section 4 Foreshore and Seabed Endowment Revesting Amendment Act 1994 (1994 No 113) by inserting the words (except land to which section 9A of the Foreshore and Seabed Endowment Revesting Act 1991 applies).

    Government Work: this definition was amended, as from 25 November 2004, by section 103(1) Foreshore and Seabed Act 2004 (2004 No 93) by substituting the words (except the public foreshore and seabed) for the words (except land to which section 9A of the Foreshore and Seabed Endowment Revesting Act 1991 applies).

    Intellectual property includes all property rights constituted by the Patents Act 1953, the Designs Act 1953, the Trade Marks Act 2002, and the Plant Varieties Act 1973, and includes any trade secret; but does not include any property rights constituted by the Copyright Act 1994

    Intellectual property: this definition was inserted, as from 31 March 1987, by section 2(3) Public Works Amendment Act (No 2) 1987 (1987 No 67).

    Intellectual property: this definition was amended, as from 1 January 1995, by section 136(1) Copyright Act 1994 (1994 No 143) by substituting the words Copyright Act 1994 for the words Copyright Act 1962.

    Intellectual property: this definition was amended, as from 20 August 2003, by section 201 Trade Marks Act 2002 (2002 No 49) by substituting the words Trade Marks Act 2002 for the words Trade Marks Act 1953. See clause 2 Trade Marks Act 2002 Commencement Order 2003 (SR 2003/188).

    Land includes any estate or interest in land

    Local authority means any regional council, territorial authority, Catchment Authority or Regional Water Board, Harbour Board, Electric Power Board, Education Authority within the meaning of the Education Act 1964, Council of any University within the meaning of the Universities Act 1961, Airport Authority, and any other person or body, however designated, having authority, under any Act, to undertake the construction or execution of any public work

    Local authority: this definition was amended, as from 31 March 1987, by section 2(4) Public Works Amendment Act (No 2) 1987 (1987 No 67) by substituting the words Education Authority within the meaning of the Education Act 1964, Council of any University within the meaning of the Universities Act 1961 for the words Education Board. Note: the term united council in section 2 Local Government Act 1974 was repealed, as from 1 November 1989, by section 2(17) of Local Government Amendment Act (No 2) 1989 (1989 No 29).

    Local authority: this definition was amended, as from 1 January 2001, by section 111(1) New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000 (2000 No 91) by omitting the words Hospital Board,.

    Local authority: this definition was amended, as from 1 July 2003, by section 262 Local Government Act 2002 (2002 No 84) by omitting the words united council,. See sections 273 to 314 of that Act as to the savings and transitional provisions.

    Local work means a work constructed or intended to be constructed by or under the control of a local authority, or for the time being under the control of a local authority

    Minister

    [Repealed]

    Minister: this definition was repealed, as from 1 April 1988, by section 2(1) Public Works Amendment Act 1988 (1988 No 43).

    Ministry

    [Repealed]

    Ministry: this definition was repealed, as from 1 April 1988, by section 2(1) Public Works Amendment Act 1988 (1988 No 43).

    Motorway means a motorway declared as such by the Governor-General in Council under section 138 of this Act; and includes all bridges, drains, culverts, or other structures or works forming part of any motorway so declared; but does not include any local road, access way, or service lane (or the supports of any such road, way, or lane) that crosses over or under a motorway on a different level

    National Roads Board

    [Repealed]

    National Roads Board: this definition was repealed, as from 1 October 1989, by section 116(4) Transit New Zealand Act 1989 (1989 No 75).

    Notice means a statement conveying the general effect of a matter or thing done or intended to be done

    Planning Tribunal

    [Repealed]

    Planning Tribunal: this definition was amended, as from 1 October 1991, by section 362 Resource Management Act 1991 (1991 No 69) by substituting the words under the Resource Management Act 1991 for the words under the Town and Country Planning Act 1977.

    Planning Tribunal: this definition was replaced, as from 2 September 1996, by the definition of Environment Court pursuant to section 6(2)(a) Resource Management Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 160).

    public foreshore and seabed has the same meaning as in section 5 of the Foreshore and Seabed Act 2004

    public foreshore and seabed: this definition was inserted, as from 25 November 2004, by section 103(1) Foreshore and Seabed Act 2004 (2004 No 93).

    Public notice means a notice published in a newspaper circulating in the area in which the subject-matter of the notice arises, or to which it relates; and, if there is no such newspaper, then by a printed or written placard posted in some conspicuous place on the land or works affected by such notice or to which it relates; and publicly notified has a corresponding meaning

    Public reserve and reserve have the same meaning as in the Reserves Act 1977

    Public work and work mean—

    • (a) Every Government work or local work that the Crown or any local authority is authorised to construct, undertake, establish, manage, operate, or maintain, and every use of land for any Government work or local work which the Crown or any local authority is authorised to construct, undertake, establish, manage, operate, or maintain by or under this or any other Act; and include anything required directly or indirectly for any such Government work or local work or use:

    • (b) Every Government work or local work constructed, undertaken, established, managed, operated, or maintained by any Education Authority within the meaning of the Education Act 1964 and every use of land for any Government work or local work which such Education Authority constructs, undertakes, establishes, manages, operates, or maintains, and include anything required directly or indirectly for any such Government work or local work or use:

    • (c) Any Government work or local work that is, or is required, for any university within the meaning of the Universities Act 1961:

    Public work and work: this definition was substituted, as from 31 March 1987, by section 2(5) Public Works Amendment Act (No 2) 1987 (1987 No 67).

    Railway includes—

    • (a) The land upon which any railway is made or authorised to be made under this Act, and all buildings and erections of every kind thereon, and all land held for railway purposes; and

    • (b) All buildings, erections, wharves, jetties, works, rolling stock, motor vehicles, vessels, plant, machinery, goods, chattels, and other fixed or moveable property of every description or kind capable of being used in respect of a railway, and situated or to be situated on any such land or held or used, or reputed to be held or used in connection with or for the purposes of a railway; and

    • (c) All telephone, electric telegraph, or other communications installations used in connection with a railway:

    Railway paragraph (b): this definition was substituted, as from 31 March 1987, by section 2(6) Public Works Amendment Act (No 2) 1987 (1987 No 67).

    Road means a road as defined in section 121 of this Act

    State highway means a state highway declared as such under section 60 of the Government Roading Powers Act 1989

    Stopping, in relation to a road, includes diverting

    Telecommunications installation includes any equipment, apparatus, structure, tunnel, manhole, pit, pole, wire, cable, tube, conduit, fibre, waveguide, or other physical medium used or intended to be used for or in connection with a telecommunications service

    territorial authority means a territorial authority within the meaning of the Local Government Act 2002; and, in relation to land that does not form part of the district of any such territorial authority, means the Minister of the Crown responsible for the administration of that Act

    Territorial authority: this definition was amended, as from 14 January 1983, by section 28(2) Local Government Amendment Act (No 2) 1982 (1982 No 166) by omitting the words or to land in the Country of Fiord.

    Territorial authority: this definition was amended, as from 1 April 1988, by section 2(2) Public Works Amendment Act 1988 (1988 No 43) by inserting the words of Local Government.

    Territorial authority: this definition was substituted, as from 1 July 2003, by section 262 Local Government Act 2002 (2002 No 84). See sections 273 to 314 of that Act as to the savings and transitional provisions.

    Urban area

    [Repealed]

    Urban area: this definition was repealed, as from 1 July 2003, by section 262 Local Government Act 2002 (2002 No 84). See sections 273 to 314 of that Act as to the savings and transitional provisions.

    Working day means any day of the week other than—

    • (a) Saturday, Sunday, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Anzac Day, Labour Day, the Sovereign's birthday, and Waitangi Day; and

    • (b) A day in the period commencing with the 25th day of December in any year and ending with the 15th day of January in the following year.

    Compare: 1928 No 21 s 2

    Section 2 State highway: amended, on 1 August 2008, by section 50(1) of the Land Transport Management Amendment Act 2008 (2008 No 47).

    State highway: this definition was amended, as from 1 October 1989, by section 116(4) Transit New Zealand Act 1989 (1989 No 75) by substituting the words section 60 of the Transit New Zealand Act 1989 for the words section 11 of the National Roads Act 1953.

    Section 2 Transit New Zealand: repealed, on 1 August 2008, by section 50(1) of the Land Transport Management Amendment Act 2008 (2008 No 47).

3 Power to declare specific public work to be essential work
  • [Repealed]

    Section 3 was repealed, as from 31 March 1987, by section 2(7) Public Works Amendment Act (No 2) 1987 (1987 No 67).

4 Service and content of notices
  • (1) Any notice under this Act may be served or given—

    • (a) By delivering it personally to the person on whom it is to be served or to whom it is to be given; or

    • (b) By leaving it, or sending it by post in a registered letter addressed to such person, at his usual or last known place of residence or business in New Zealand; or

    • (c) By so delivering or posting it to any agent or attorney of such person; or

    • (d) If such person is not known, or his whereabouts are not known, or his last place of residence or business is not known, or no agent or attorney of such person is known, to the person issuing the notice, by publishing it at least twice in a newspaper circulating in the locality in which the land affected by the notice is situated.

    (2) If a notice is sent by post in the manner prescribed by subsection (1) of this section, it shall be deemed to be served at the time at which the letter would have been delivered in the ordinary course of post; and in proving service of any such notice it shall be sufficient to prove that it was properly addressed and that it was accepted by the post office as a registered letter and that the notice has not, to the knowledge of the person making the declaration or affidavit of service or otherwise proving service, been returned by the post office to the sender.

    (3) If a notice is published in a newspaper in accordance with subsection (1) of this section, it shall be deemed to be served at the time of the last publication of the notice.

    (4) A notice required to be sent to a Minister of the Crown may be sent to the chief executive of the Minister's department at Wellington or, as the case may require, to the General Manager of Railways at the New Zealand Railways Corporation office at Wellington.

    (5) A notice required to be sent to a local authority may be sent to the chief executive at the office of the authority.

    (6) Except as otherwise provided in this Act, every notice shall—

    • (a) Specify—

      • (i) The purpose of the notice; and

      • (ii) The period covered (if intended to be intermittent); and

      • (iii) The rights of objection to the matters referred to in the notice; and

      • (iv) The name and address of an officer of the Ministry or local authority to whom inquiries in respect of the notice may be made; and

      • (v) If entry on land is intended, the statutory authority for the entry; and

    • (b) Be signed, as the case may require, by—

      • (i) A Minister of the Crown or an authorised officer of the Minister's department on the Minister's behalf; or

      • (ii) the chief executive of the local authority or his or her deputy

    Compare: 1928 No 21 s 3

    Subsection (4) was substituted, as from 1 April 1988, by section 3(1) Public Works Amendment Act 1988 (1988 No 43).

    Subsection (5) was substituted, as from 1 July 2003, by section 262 Local Government Act 2002 (2002 No 84). See sections 273 to 314 of that Act as to the savings and transitional provisions.

    Subsection (6)(b)(i) was substituted, as from 1 April 1988, by section 3(2) Public Works Amendment Act 1988 (1988 No 43).

    Subsection (6)(b)(ii) was substituted, as from 1 July 2003, by section 262 Local Government Act 2002 (2002 No 84). See sections 273 to 314 of that Act as to the savings and transitional provisions.

4A Powers of Minister of Lands
  • Without limiting the powers conferred on the Minister of Lands by any other Act, the Minister of Lands shall have power to—

    • (a) Acquire any land, building, or structure required for any Government work, to settle the purchase price or compensation therefor, and to administer, develop, improve, transfer, or dispose of any such property:

    • (b) Acquire or hire personal property, including plant, stores, and equipment required for the performance of any of the Minister's activities or undertakings, and dispose of such property when no longer required or when commercially practicable.

    Sections 4A, 4B, and 4C were inserted, as from 1 April 1988, by section 4 Public Works Amendment Act 1988 (1988 No 43).

4B Execution of contracts for public works, etc
  • (1) Every contract or instrument relating to a Government work, unless otherwise expressly provided in this or any other Act, shall be entered into in the name of the Crown, and may, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any other Act, be executed on the Crown's behalf by any Minister of the Crown, or by any person or office holder authorised by a Minister of the Crown in that behalf, either generally or in respect of any specified contract or instrument or of any specified class or classes of contract or instruments.

    (2) Every contract, deed, or other instrument relating to land acquired or to be acquired by the Crown under this Act, unless otherwise expressly provided in this or any other Act, shall be entered into in the name of the Crown and may, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any other Act, be executed on the Crown's behalf by the Minister of Lands, or by any person or office holder authorised by the Minister in that behalf, either generally or in respect of any specified contract, deed, or instrument or of any specified class or classes of contracts, deeds, or instruments.

    (3) Every contract for the execution of local works shall be made in such manner as the local authority making it is authorised by law to make and execute its contracts.

    (4) All such contracts may be varied and discharged in the same manner respectively.

    Sections 4A, 4B, and 4C were inserted, as from 1 April 1988, by section 4 Public Works Amendment Act 1988 (1988 No 43).

4C Delegation of Minister's powers
  • (1) Any Minister of the Crown may from time to time, either generally or particularly, delegate in writing to any officer of the Minister's department any of the powers conferred on the Minister by this Act, except the power of delegation conferred by this section.

    (2) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (1) of this section, the Minister of Lands may not delegate—

    • (a) The power to issue a notice of desire to acquire land under section 18(1) of this Act; or

    • (b) The power to issue a notice of intention to take land under section 23(1) of this Act.

    (3) Any delegation under this section may be made to—

    • (a) A specified person; or

    • (b) A person of a specified class; or

    • (c) The holder for the time being of a specified office or appointment; or

    • (d) The holders for the time being of offices or appointments of a specified class.

    (4) Subject to any general or special directions given or conditions or restrictions imposed by the Minister, the person to whom any powers, functions, and discretions are delegated may exercise them in the same manner and with the same effect as if they had been conferred directly by this Act and not by delegation.

    (5) Every person purporting to act pursuant to any delegation under this section shall be presumed to be acting in accordance with its terms in the absence of proof to the contrary.

    (6) A delegation under this section shall not affect the exercise of any power, function, or discretion by the Minister.

    (7) If the Minister by whom any delegation under this section is made ceases to hold office, the delegation shall continue to have effect as if made by the Minister's successor in office.

    (8) Every delegation under this section shall be revocable at will, but any such revocation shall not take effect until it has been communicated to the delegate.

    Sections 4A, 4B, and 4C were inserted, as from 1 April 1988, by section 4 Public Works Amendment Act 1988 (1988 No 43).

Part 1
Establishment and functions of Ministry of Works and Development

5
  • [Repealed]

    Section 5 was repealed, as from 1 April 1988, by section 5(2) Public Works Amendment Act 1988 (1988 No 43).

6
  • [Repealed]

    Section 6 was repealed, as from 1 April 1988, by section 5(2) Public Works Amendment Act 1988 (1988 No 43).

7
  • [Repealed]

    Section 7 was repealed, as from 1 April 1988, by section 5(2) Public Works Amendment Act 1988 (1988 No 43).

8
  • [Repealed]

    Section 8 was repealed, as from 1 April 1988, by section 5(2) Public Works Amendment Act 1988 (1988 No 43).

9
  • [Repealed]

    Section 9 was repealed, as from 1 April 1988, by section 5(2) Public Works Amendment Act 1988 (1988 No 43).

10
  • [Repealed]

    Section 10 was repealed, as from 1 April 1988, by section 5(2) Public Works Amendment Act 1988 (1988 No 43).

11
  • [Repealed]

    Section 11 was repealed, as from 1 April 1988, by section 5(2) Public Works Amendment Act 1988 (1988 No 43).

12
  • [Repealed]

    Section 12 was repealed, as from 1 April 1988, by section 5(2) Public Works Amendment Act 1988 (1988 No 43).

13
  • [Repealed]

    Section 13 was repealed, as from 1 April 1988, by section 5(2) Public Works Amendment Act 1988 (1988 No 43).

14
  • [Repealed]

    Section 14 was repealed, as from 1 April 1988, by section 5(2) Public Works Amendment Act 1988 (1988 No 43).

15
  • [Repealed]

    Section 15 was repealed, as from 1 April 1988, by section 5(2) Public Works Amendment Act 1988 (1988 No 43).

Part 2
Acquisition of land for public works

15A Interpretation
  • In this Part of this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, Minister means the Minister of Lands.

    Section 15A was inserted, as from 1 April 1988, by section 6 Public Works Amendment Act 1988 (1988 No 43).

16 Empowering acquisition of land
  • (1) The Minister is hereby empowered to acquire under this Act any land required for a Government work.

    (2) Every local authority is hereby empowered to acquire under this Act any land required for a local work for which it has financial responsibility.

    Compare: 1928 No 21 s 11

Acquisition by agreement

17 Acquisition by agreement
  • (1) The Minister or a local authority may enter into an agreement to purchase any land for any public work for which the Crown or local authority, as the case may be, is responsible.

    (2) Any agreement to sell land to the Crown or a local authority for public work under this section may be implemented by a declaration under section 20 of this Act or by a memorandum of transfer under the Land Transfer Act 1952 for the stated public work.

    (3) [Repealed]

    (4) If the land sought is—

    • (a) Maori freehold land as defined in section 2 of the Maori Affairs Act 1953; and

    • (b) Beneficially owned by more than 4 persons; and

    • (c) Not vested in any trustee or trustees—

    the Minister, or any person authorised generally or particularly in writing by him, or the local authority, as the case may be, may apply to the Maori Land Court for the district in which the land is situated for an order under the provisions of Part 9 of the Maori Affairs Amendment Act 1974. The Maori Land Court shall deal with the application as if a notice under an enactment had been issued to the owners.

    (5) If an agent is appointed by the Maori Land Court, he shall, subject to the terms of the appointment, be deemed to be the owner of the land for the purposes of entering into an agreement under this section and of executing any transfer or conveyance.

    (6) Where Public Trust is authorised by virtue of an order under section 81 of this Act to represent the owner, Public Trust may agree to so represent the owner for the purposes of this section and may execute any transfer or conveyance.

    (7) Any agreement to sell the land to the Crown or to a local authority under this section may—

    • (a) Specify the method of acquiring title to the land; and

    • (b) [Repealed]

    Compare: 1928 No 21 s 32(1), (2)

    Subsection (1) was substituted. as from 1 April 1988, by section 7 Public Works Amendment Act 1988 (1988 No 43).

    Subsection (3) was repealed, as from 31 March 1987, by section 2(7) Public Works Amendment Act (No 2) 1987 (1987 No 67).

    Subsection (6) was amended, as from 1 March 2002, by section 170(1) Public Trust Act 2001 (2001 No 100), by substituting the words Public Trust for the words the Public Trustee wherever they occur. See clause 2 Public Trust Act Commencement Order 2002 (SR 2002/11).

    Subsection (7)(b) was repealed, as from 31 March 1987, by section 2(7) Public Works Amendment Act (No 2) 1987 (1987 No 67).

18 Prior negotiations required for acquisition of land for essential works
  • (1) Where any land is required for any public work the Minister or local authority, as the case may be, shall, before proceeding to take the land under this Act—

    • (a) Serve notice of his or its desire to acquire the land on every person having a registered interest in the land; and

    • (b) Lodge a notice of desire to acquire the land with the District Land Registrar who shall register it, without fee, against the certificate of title affected; and

    • (c) Invite the owner to sell the land to him or it, and, following a valuation carried out by a registered valuer, advise the owner of the estimated amount of compensation to which he would be entitled under this Act or the betterment that he may be liable to pay; and

    • (d) Make every endeavour to negotiate in good faith with the owner in an attempt to reach an agreement for the acquisition of the land.

    (2) If, after a period of 3 months,—

    • (a) The owner fails to respond to any invitation issued under subsection (1) of this section; or

    • (b) The owner refuses to negotiate with the Minister or the local authority, as the case may be; or

    • (c) An agreement for the sale and purchase of the land is not made with the owner under section 17 of this Act,—

    the Minister or local authority may, within 1 year after notifying the owner under subsection (1) of this section, proceed to take the land under this Act.

    (3) Any notice under subsection (1) of this section—

    • (a) May be withdrawn by the Minister or local authority at any time; and

    • (b) Shall, in relation to any person and his interest in the land, be deemed to have been withdrawn at the expiration of the period of 1 year beginning on the day after the date on which the notice was served on that person unless, before the expiration of that period,—

      • (i) Proceedings have been commenced under subsection (2) of this section; and

      • (ii) Notice of the commencement of those proceedings has been given to that person.

    (4) Where any notice under subsection (1) of this section—

    • (a) Has been withdrawn by the Minister or local authority under subsection (3)(a) of this section; or

    • (b) Has been deemed to be withdrawn by virtue of subsection (3)(b) of this section—

    the Minister or local authority, as the case may require, shall give notice to that effect to the District Land Registrar who shall register it, without fee, against the title to the land.

    (5) If the land required is—

    • (a) Maori freehold land as defined in section 2 of the Maori Affairs Act 1953; and

    • (b) Beneficially owned by more than 4 persons; and

    • (c) Not vested in any trustee or trustees—

    the Minister, or any person authorised generally or particularly in writing by him, or the local authority, as the case may be, before complying with the provisions of subsection (1) of this section, may apply to the Maori Land Court for the district in which the land is situated for an order under the provisions of Part 9 of the Maori Affairs Amendment Act 1974. The Maori Land Court shall deal with the application as if a notice under an enactment had been issued to the owners.

    (6) If an agent is appointed by the Maori Land Court, he shall, subject to the terms of the appointment, be deemed to be the owner of the land for the purposes of this section.

    (7) Where—

    • (a) After reasonable inquiry the owner of the land cannot be found or is absent from New Zealand without appearing to have appointed an attorney with power to act on his behalf, and a period of 3 months has elapsed since notification was attempted to be given under subsection (1) of this section; or

    • (b) In the case of land to which subsection (5) of this section relates, an order has not been made within 6 months after the application to the Court under that subsection; or

    • (c) The owner of the land has indicated that he does not object to the acquisition but he has no power to sell the land; or

    • (d) The owner of the land is under a legal disability and he has no person to represent him; or

    • (e) The land is subject to a right of way by virtue of section 168 of the Land Transfer Act 1952 and the owner of the land has consented to the acquisition—

    the Minister or local authority, as the case may be, may, without complying with the provisions of subsection (1) or subsection (2) of this section, proceed to take the land under this Act.

    (8) Where Public Trust is authorised by virtue of an order under section 81 of this Act to represent the owner, Public Trust may agree to represent the owner for the purposes of this section.

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 31 March 1987, by section 2(7) Public Works Amendment Act (No 2) 1987 (1987 No 67) by substituting the word public for the word essential.

    Subsection (8) was amended, as from 1 March 2002, by section 170(1) Public Trust Act 2001 (2001 No 100), by substituting the words Public Trust for the words the Public Trustee wherever they occur. See clause 2 Public Trust Act Commencement Order 2002 (SR 2002/11).

19 Compensation certificate may be registered to protect agreement
  • (1) Where the Minister or any local authority has entered into an agreement under section 17 of this Act, or entered into an agreement for the payment of compensation under this or any other Act for damaging or injuriously affecting any land, or for the temporary occupation of any land, or for any condition or restriction to be applied in respect of any land, the Minister or local authority may forward a compensation certificate in accordance with this section to the District Land Registrar who shall, without fee, register it against the certificate of title to all land affected by it.

    (2) Every compensation certificate under this section shall set out—

    • (a) The description of land affected by the certificate:

    • (b) Brief particulars of the agreement which the Minister or local authority has entered into in respect of the land:

    • (c) The name and the address (if any) mentioned in the agreement of each person, other than the Minister or local authority, who is a party to the agreement:

    • (d) The place where, and the hours during which, a copy of the agreement may be inspected, and a reference by which the agreement may be identified.

    (3) Notwithstanding anything contained in this section, where the land affected by an agreement comprises or includes part of the land in a certificate of title, and the part is not accurately defined in the agreement, a compensation certificate in respect of the agreement may be registered against the whole of the land in the certificate of title, and it shall not be necessary for the purpose of registering the compensation certificate to define accurately the land affected by the agreement.

    (4) The validity of a compensation certificate shall not be affected by any misdescription in it of the land if sufficient information appears on the face of the compensation certificate to enable the District Land Registrar to satisfy himself of the identity of the land intended to be affected.

    (5) Every person who acquires an estate or interest in any land in respect of which a compensation certificate under this section has been registered shall be bound by the agreement to which it relates to the same extent as the person from whom he acquired the estate or interest.

    (6) Every person who applies at the place and within the hours specified in a compensation certificate for permission to inspect the copy of the agreement shall be shown the copy and any annexed plan, and, if the agreement requires payment of any money or the vesting of any land or the execution of any work, shall if he so requests be advised as soon as possible of the extent to which the agreement has been performed.

    (7) Where the Minister or local authority is satisfied—

    • (a) That any land against which a compensation certificate is registered is not affected or no longer affected by the agreement to which the compensation certificate refers; or

    • (b) In any other case, as soon as all the requirements of the agreement have been performed or otherwise discharged so far as they affect any piece of land and that piece of land has ceased to be injuriously affected by the agreement and by any act done under the agreement—

    the Minister or local authority shall notify the District Land Registrar to that effect who shall, without fee, note that the compensation certificate is discharged against the title to the land.

    (8) Every compensation certificate, and every notice under subsection (7) of this section, shall be signed by the Minister or by some person authorised by the Minister in that behalf or, in the case of a local authority, shall be signed by the chief executive of the local authority.

    Compare: 1948 No 39 s 17

    Subsection (8) was amended, as from 1 July 2003, by section 262 Local Government Act 2002 (2002 No 84) by substituting the words chief executive for the words principal administrative officer. See sections 273 to 314 of that Act as to the savings and transitional provisions.

20 Declaration may give effect to agreement
  • (1) Where under this or any other Act, power is given to acquire land under this Act, the Minister, upon being satisfied—

    • (a) That the owner of the land has agreed to his land being acquired; and

    • (b) That no private injury will be done by the acquisition, or that compensation is provided by this Act for any private injury that will be done by the acquisition—

    may issue a declaration in writing that, an agreement to that effect having been entered into, the land is thereby acquired for the purpose for which it is authorised to be acquired.

    (2) Every declaration issued under subsection (1) of this section shall have the effect of and be deemed to be a Proclamation under section 26 of this Act, and the provisions of this or any other Act relating to Proclamations shall apply to any such declaration as if it were a Proclamation issued under that section, except that it shall not be necessary to publicly notify the declaration.

    (3) Where an agreement for the purchase of any land has been entered into, title to the land, if not otherwise acquired, shall be transferred or surrendered to the Crown or to the local authority, as the case may be.

    (4) Any land purchased and transferred or surrendered under this section shall be deemed to be land acquired under the authority of this Act.

    Compare: 1928 No 21 s 32(4)-(6); 1962 No 41 s 4; 1970 No 145 s 5

21 Land may be purchased or improved for granting as compensation
  • Any notifying authority, as defined in section 59 of this Act, may acquire any land under section 17 of this Act and develop and construct buildings on such land or on any other land owned by the notifying authority for the purpose of granting the land or any part of it in payment or satisfaction or in part payment or part satisfaction of the compensation payable to the person entitled for any land taken, purchased, or acquired for or in connection with a public work.

    Compare: 1928 No 21 s 32A; 1976 No 165 s 2

Compulsory acquisition of land

22 Only land required for essential works may be compulsorily taken
  • [Repealed]

    Section 22 was repealed, as from 31 March 1987, by section 2(7) Public Works Amendment Act (No 2) 1987 (1987 No 67).

23 Notice of intention to take land
  • (1) When land (other than land owned by the Crown) is required to be taken for any public work, the Minister in the case of a Government work, and the local authority in the case of a local work, shall—

    • (a) Cause a survey to be made and a plan to be prepared, and lodged with the Chief Surveyor, showing the land required to be taken and the names of the owners of the land so far as they can be ascertained; and

    • (b) Cause a notice to be published in the Gazette and twice publicly notified giving—

      • (i) A general description of the land required to be taken (including the name of and number in the road or some other readily identifiable description of the place where the land is situated); and

      • (ii) A description of the purpose for which the land is to be used; and

      • (iii) The reasons why the taking of the land is considered reasonably necessary; and

      • (iv) A period within which objections, other than objections by persons who are served with a copy of the notice under subsection (1)(c) of this section, may be made; and

    • (c) Serve a notice on the owner of, and persons with a registered interest in, the land of the intention to take the land in the form set out in Schedule 1 to this Act.

    (2) The provisions of this section requiring the names of the owners of the land to be shown on the plan of the land shall have no application in respect of any Maori land unless title to the land is registered under the Land Transfer Act 1952, but instead the plan shall be endorsed with the advice that the names of the owners may be obtained at the appropriate Maori Land Court. Entry on the Provisional Register shall not be deemed to be registration within the meaning of this subsection.

    (3) Every person having any estate or interest in the land intended to be taken may object to the taking of the land to the Environment Court in accordance with the provisions of the notice.

    (4) Every notice of intention to take land given under this section shall, on the expiration of 1 year after the date of the publication in the Gazette of the notice, cease to have effect unless, on or before the expiration of that year,—

    • (a) A Proclamation taking the land has been published in the Gazette; or

    • (b) The Minister or the local authority has, by a further notice in writing served on the owner of the land, and persons with a registered interest in the land, intended to be taken, so far as they have been ascertained, confirmed the intention, subject to the provisions of this Act, of taking the land; or

    • (c) The intention to take is the subject of any inquiry by the Environment Court or an Ombudsman, or of any application for a judicial review, in which case the notice of intention shall remain valid for 3 months after the date of the Environment Court's report or the date on which the Environment Court received written notice of the withdrawal of the objection, or the date of the completion of any inquiry by an Ombudsman, or the judicial decision, as the case may be.

    (5) Where the Minister or local authority has confirmed the intention of taking the land, the notice of intention so confirmed shall cease to have effect unless, on or before the expiration of 2 years after the date of such confirmation, a Proclamation taking the land has been published in the Gazette.

    (6) Where any such notice of intention given by the Minister or a local authority has so ceased to have effect, the notice shall not be repeated until at least 6 months after the date on which the original notice or the confirming notice, as the case may require, ceased to have effect.

    (7) A copy of the notice under subsection (1)(b) of this section shall be lodged with the District Land Registrar and he shall register it without fee against the certificate of title affected.

    (8) Any notice under this section may be withdrawn by the Minister or local authority and, if it is withdrawn, a notice to that effect shall be lodged with the District Land Registrar who shall register it without fee against the title to the land.

    Compare: 1928 No 21 s 22

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 31 March 1987, by section 2(7) Public Works Amendment Act (No 2) 1987 (1987 No 67) by substituting the word public for the word essential.

    Subsection (1)(b)(iii) was amended, as from 31 March 1987, by section 7 Public Works Amendment Act (No 2) 1987 (1987 No 67) by substituting the words reasonably necessary for the word essential.

    The words Environment Court in subsections (3) and (4)(c) were substituted, as from 2 September 1996, for the words Planning Tribunal pursuant to section 6(2)(a) Resource Management Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 160).

24 Objection to be heard by Environment Court
  • (1) On receiving a written objection under section 23 of this Act, the Environment Court shall, as soon as practicable, send a copy of the objection to the Minister or local authority, as the case may require.

    (2) Within 1 month after receiving a copy of the objection or within such further period as the Environment Court may allow, the Minister or local authority, as the case may require, shall send to the Environment Court and serve on the objector a reply to the objection containing the following information:

    • (a) The statutory or other authority under which it is proposed to take the land; and

    • (b) The nature of the work to be constructed or the purpose for which the land is required; and

    • (c) Such other matters as may be appropriate having regard to the objections made and to any practice directions issued by the Environment Court.

    (3) The Environment Court shall inquire into the objection and the intended taking and for that purpose shall conduct a hearing at such time and place as it may appoint.

    (4) Not less than 15 working days' notice of the time and place so appointed shall be given to the objector and to the Minister or local authority, as the case may require.

    (5) Every such hearing shall be held in public unless the objector gives written notice to the Environment Court before the date of the hearing that he requires the hearing to be held in private.

    (6) At every such hearing the Minister or the local authority may be represented by counsel or by an officer of the Minister's department or local authority, as the case may require, and the objector may appear and act personally or by counsel or any duly authorised representative.

    (7) The Environment Court shall—

    • (a) Ascertain the objectives of the Minister or local authority, as the case may require:

    • (b) Enquire into the adequacy of the consideration given to alternative sites, routes, or other methods of achieving those objectives:

    • (c) In its discretion, send the matter back to the Minister or local authority for further consideration in the light of any directions given by the Environment Court:

    • (d) Decide whether, in its opinion, it would be fair, sound, and reasonably necessary for achieving the objectives of the Minister or local authority, as the case may require, for the land of the objector to be taken:

    • (e) Prepare a written report on the objection and on the Environment Court's findings:

    • (f) Submit its report and findings to the Minister or local authority, as the case may require.

    (8) [Repealed]

    (9) At the same time as the Environment Court submits its report and findings to the Minister or local authority, it shall send a copy of the report and findings to the objector, and make copies of them available to the public.

    (10) The report and findings of the Environment Court shall be binding on the Minister or, as the case may be, the local authority.

    (11) Any objection filed under section 23 of this Act may be withdrawn by the objector at any time before the Environment Court makes its report and findings under this section.

    (12) Where the objection is withdrawn by the objector pursuant to subsection (11) of this section, the Environment Court shall not be obliged to make a report and findings under this section.

    (13) The Environment Court may award such costs as it considers just either in favour of or against the objector, the Crown, or the local authority.

    (14) Subject to sections 299 and 308 of the Resource Management Act 1991 no appeal shall lie from any report or recommendation of the Environment Court under this section.

    Compare: 1928 No 21 s 22A(3)-(10); 1973 No 44 s 7(1)

    Subsection (6) was amended, as from 1 April 1988, by section 8 Public Works Amendment Act 1988 (1988 No 43) by substituting the words the Minister's department for the words the Ministry.

    Subsection (7) was substituted, as from 31 March 1987, by section 8(1) Public Works Amendment Act (No 2) 1987 (1987 No 67).

    Subsection (8) was substituted, as from 31 March 1987, by section 8(1) Public Works Amendment Act (No 2) 1987 (1987 No 67).

    Subsection (8) was repealed, as from 31 March 1987, by section 8(1) Public Works Amendment Act (No 2) 1987 (1987 No 67).

    Subsection (9) was substituted, as from 31 March 1987, by section 8(2) Public Works Amendment Act (No 2) 1987 (1987 No 67).

    Subsection (10) was substituted, as from 31 March 1987, by section 8(2) Public Works Amendment Act (No 2) 1987 (1987 No 67).

    Subsection (11) was substituted, as from 31 March 1987, by section 8(2) Public Works Amendment Act (No 2) 1987 (1987 No 67).

    Subsection (12) was substituted, as from 31 March 1987, by section 8(2) Public Works Amendment Act (No 2) 1987 (1987 No 67).

    Subsection (14) was substituted, as from 16 December 1983, by section 38(1) Town and Country Planning Amendment Act 1983 (1983 No 149), and amended, as from 1 October 1991, by section 362 Resource Management Act 1991 (1991 No 69) by substituting the words Subject to sections 299 and 308 of the Resource Management Act 1991 for the words Subject to sections 162 and 162H of the Town and Country Planning Act 1977.

    The words Environment Court in subsections (1), (2), (3), (5), (7), (9), (10), (11), (12) and (13) were substituted, as from 2 September 1996, for the words Planning Tribunal pursuant to section 6(2)(a) Resource Management Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 160).

    The words Environment Court in subsection (7)(c) and (e) were substituted, as from 2 September 1996, for the words Tribunal pursuant to section 6(2)(a) Resource Management Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 160).

25 Environment Judge may conduct inquiry alone by agreement
  • An Environment Judge or alternate Environment Judge, sitting alone or with any other member of the Environment Court shall, if both the Minister or local authority and the objector agree, have jurisdiction to conduct the inquiry under section 24 of this Act and to report on the inquiry and make recommendations in respect of it.

    Compare: 1928 No 21 s 22A(2)

    Section 25 was amended, as from 16 December 1983, by section 38(2) Town and Country Planning Amendment Act 1983 (1983 No 149) by substituting the words a Planning Judge or an alternate Planning Judge for the words the Chairman of any Division of the Planning Tribunal, or the alternative Chairman.

    Section 25 was amended, as from 1 October 1991, by section 362 Resource Management Act 1991 (1991 No 69) by omitting the words Notwithstanding anything in section 134 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1977. Note: it would appear that the amendment provision should also have omitted the comma after the expression 1977.

    The words Environment Court were substituted, as from 2 September 1996, for the word Tribunal pursuant to section 6(2)(a) Resource Management Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 160).

    The words Environment Judge were substituted, as from 2 September 1996, for the words Planning Judge pursuant to section 6(2)(b) Resource Management Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 160).

26 When Proclamation may issue
  • (1) If no objection is made within the time allowed under this Act or, if made, is withdrawn by the objector or is disallowed by the Environment Court, and the Minister or, as the case may be, the local authority, is of the opinion that the land should be taken for the public work specified in the notice given under section 23 of this Act, and that no private injury will be done for which due compensation is not provided in this Act, the land intended to be taken may be taken in the following manner:

    • (a) Subject to the provisions of section 32 of this Act—

      • (i) A survey plan shall be prepared, in duplicate, showing accurately the position and extent of the land proposed to be taken; and

      • (ii) Such plan shall be signed by the Chief Surveyor as evidence of its accuracy; and

      • (iii) A duplicate print of the title plan shall be prepared; and

    • (b) In the case of any Government work, the Minister shall recommend the Governor-General to issue a Proclamation taking the land:

    • (c) In the case of any local work—

      • (i) The local authority shall submit to the Governor-General a request to take the land proposed to be taken, together with the plan in duplicate unless the provisions of section 32 of this Act apply:

      • (ii) Every such request shall be signed by the chief executive of the local authority, and need not be under seal:

      • (iii) A statutory declaration by the chairperson or mayor or the chief executive of the local authority, in the form set out in Schedule 2 to this Act, may be accepted by the Governor-General as sufficient without making further inquiry:

      • (iv) Every such declaration shall be accompanied, where applicable, by the relevant report of the Environment Court.

    (2) The Governor-General may, if he thinks fit, by Proclamation declare that the land described in it is taken for the public work. Every such Proclamation shall be gazetted and publicly notified within 1 month after the date of its making; and every such public notification shall contain some readily identifiable description of the land taken, but a Proclamation shall not be invalidated by any error, defect, or delay in its gazetting or public notification.

    (3) The land specified in the Proclamation shall, unless otherwise provided in the Proclamation or in this Act or in any other Act, become absolutely vested in fee simple in the Crown or in the local authority, as the case may require, freed and discharged from all mortgages, charges, claims, estates, or interests of whatever kind for the public work named in the Proclamation on the 14th day after the day on which the Proclamation is published in the Gazette.

    Compare: 1928 No 21 s 23

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 31 March 1987, by section 2(7) Public Works Amendment Act (No 2) 1987 (1987 No 67) by substituting the word public for the word essential where it appears.

    Subsection (1) was substituted, as from 31 March 1987, by section 9 Public Works Amendment Act (No 2) 1987 (1987 No 67).

    The words Environment Court in subsection (1) were substituted, as from 2 September 1996, for the words Planning Tribunal pursuant to section 6(2)(a) Resource Management Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 160).

    Subsection (1)(c)(ii) was amended, as from 1 July 2003, by section 262 Local Government Act 2002 (2002 No 84) by substituting the words chief executive for the words principal administrative officer. See sections 273 to 314 of that Act as to the savings and transitional provisions.

    Subsection (1)(c)(iii) was amended, as from 1 July 2003, by section 262 Local Government Act 2002 (2002 No 84) by substituting the words chairperson or mayor or the chief executive for the words Chairman or Mayor or the principal administrative officer. See sections 273 to 314 of that Act as to the savings and transitional provisions.

    Subsections (2) and (3) were amended, as from 31 March 1987, by section 2(7) Public Works Amendment Act (No 2) 1987 (1987 No 67) by substituting the word public for the word essential where it appears.

27 Natural material on land may be acquired or taken for public work
  • (1) In this section, natural material includes gravel, stone, clay, soil, sand, pumice, and limestone, or other similar material.

    (2) Subject to subsection (3) of this section, where any work has been authorised to be carried out and any natural material is required in the construction or maintenance of the work, the Crown or the local authority by its employees, agents, or contractors may, subject to the conditions set out in this section,—

    • (a) Enter during daylight on any land and dig and remove any natural material from it; and

    • (b) Enter during daylight on any land for the purpose of gaining access to any river or stream, and, subject to the approval of the catchment authority, dig and remove natural material from the river or stream in such manner as will not divert or interrupt the course of the river or stream or damage any building, road, ford, or drain; and

    • (c) Enter during daylight on any land so as to gain access to other land for any purpose authorised under this section.

    (3) Entry shall not be made under subsection (2) of this section without the consent of the owner or occupier, if the land is within the curtilage of a dwelling or other building or is within a stockyard, orchard, vineyard, plant nursery, shelter belt, airstrip, garden, or shrubbery.

    (4) No natural material shall be dug or removed under subsection (2)(b) of this section within 50 metres above or below any bridge, dam, or ford without the consent of the person or authority having control over the bridge, dam, or ford.

    (5) Before entering on land under subsection (2) of this section, a Minister of the Crown or some officer acting on his behalf or the local authority, as the case may be, shall (except in the case of any earthquake, flood, landslide, or other emergency requiring immediate repair to or reconstruction of the work) give to the owner and the occupier of the land not less than 10 working days' notice in writing of the intention to enter and shall include in the notice—

    • (a) A description of the land affected; and

    • (b) The type of material required; and

    • (c) The approximate quantity of material required; and

    • (d) The use proposed to be made of the material to be removed; and

    • (e) How and when entry is to be made; and

    • (f) A statement of the owner or occupier's rights under subsection (6) of this section; and

    • (g) A statement that the owner or occupier will be entitled to compensation under this Act.

    (6) The owner or occupier may, within 10 working days after receiving the notice and after giving notice to the Minister or local authority, as the case may be, of his intention to do so, object to the District Court nearest to the land concerned, and the Court may summon the Minister or local authority or his or its representative to appear before the Court at a time and place named in the summons.

    (7) If it appears to the Court that the taking proposed is unreasonable or unnecessary, the Court may order that natural material from the land in question shall not be taken, or shall not be taken in the manner proposed; or the Court may order that natural material be taken from such land in such manner and to such extent only and subject to such limitations and restrictions as the Court thinks fit; and all persons concerned shall be bound by any such order.

    (8) Nothing in this section shall derogate from the provisions of Part 3 of the Resource Management Act 1991.

    Subsection (2) was amended, as from 31 March 1987, by section 2(7) Public Works Amendment Act (No 2) 1987 (1987 No 67) by omitting the words that is an essential work.

    Subsection (2) was further amended, as from 1 April 1988, by section 9(1) Public Works Amendment Act 1988 (1988 No 43) by substituting the words Crown or the local authority by for the words Minister or the local authority by his or.

    Subsection (5) was amended, as from 1 April 1988, by section 9(2) Public Works Amendment Act 1988 (1988 No 43) by substituting the words a Minister of the Crown for the words the Minister.

    Subsection (5)(g) was substituted, as from 1 April 1988, by section 9(3) Public Works Amendment Act 1988 (1988 No 43).

    Subsection (8) was substituted, as from 1 October 1991, by section 362 Resource Management Act 1991 (1991 No 69).

Extending estates in land that may be acquired or taken

28 Particular estates in land may be acquired or taken
  • The power conferred by this or any other Act to acquire or take land for a public work shall include the power—

    • (a) To acquire or take and to hold the land subject to any particular estate, interest, easement, profit à prendre, covenant, or encumbrance, whether for the time being subsisting or not:

    • (b) To acquire or take and to hold separately—

      • (i) Any particular estate or interest in the land, whether for the time being subsisting separately or not; or

      • (ii) Any easement or profit à prendre over the land, whether for the time being subsisting or not.

    Compare: 1939 No 39 s 62(1)

29 Acquisition of certain public land
  • Where there is power to acquire or take any land for a public work under this or any other Act, that power, unless otherwise specially provided,—

    • (a) Shall not include the power to acquire or take any part of a road:

    • (b) Shall include the power to acquire or take any land vested in any local authority or any land vested in trustees for any local or general public purpose.

    Compare: 1928 No 21 s 13

30 Subsisting licence may be acquired or taken for public work
  • Where any land is taken or set apart for a public work, any subsisting licence, permit, right, privilege, or authority in respect of the land may be taken by the same or a subsequent Proclamation; and on and after a day to be named in the Proclamation the licence, permit, right, privilege, or authority shall vest in the Crown, or the local authority, as the case may be, freed and discharged from all mortgages, charges, claims, liens, bills of sale, and interests of any kind whatsoever. The provisions of this Act shall, so far as they are applicable and with the necessary modifications, apply in every such case as if the licence, permit, right, privilege, or authority were an interest in land.

    Compare: 1948 No 39 s 18

31 Surface, subsoil, or air space may be acquired separately
  • (1) The Minister or local authority may, in acquiring or taking land for a public work, acquire only the surface, together with such part of the subsoil or of the air space above the surface as is deemed necessary, or may acquire or take all or only such part of the subsoil or of the air space above the surface as is deemed necessary excluding the surface.

    (2) Where any land is so acquired or taken and any or all of the subsoil beneath that land is not so acquired or taken, the land shall, except pursuant to any agreement to the contrary, have no right of support from the subjacent soil.

    (3) Where any land is so acquired or taken and any or all of the subsoil beneath that land is not acquired or taken it shall not be lawful for any person to extract minerals or otherwise interfere with the subjacent land until 6 months' notice of his intention to do so has been given in writing to the Minister in the case of a Government work, or to the local authority in the case of a local work.

    (4) Where any land is so acquired or taken and any or all of the subsoil beneath that land is not acquired or taken, the Crown or the local authority, as the case may be, may at any time thereafter acquire or take in accordance with this Act any part of the subsoil underlying the land so acquired or taken, where the acquisition or taking is necessary for the support or protection of the work on the surface or in the air space above that subsoil.

    Compare: 1928 No 21 s 21

Miscellaneous provisions

32 Survey and plan not required in certain cases
  • For the purposes of sections 20, 23, 26, 36, 37, 52, and 107 of this Act—

    • (a) Where it is proposed to deal with the whole or the residue of the land comprised in any certificate of title issued under the Land Transfer Act 1952, it shall be a sufficient identification of the land to describe it as the whole or the residue of the land in the certificate of title:

    • (b) Where it is proposed to deal with land previously dealt with and separately described in any Proclamation, declaration, notice, or Order in Council issued, or deemed to have been issued, under any of those sections, the description there used shall be deemed to be a sufficient identification of the land:

    • (c) Where it is proposed to deal with the whole of the land comprised in a separate lot or other surveyed subdivision which is shown on a plan lodged in the office of the District Land Registrar in accordance with the provisions of the Land Transfer Act 1952, or lodged in the office of the Chief Surveyor of the land district in which the land is situated, it shall be sufficient to identify the land by reference to the lot or subdivision on the plan.

    Compare: 1952 No 58 s 18

33 Protective fences to be made before boundary fences removed
  • Nothing in this Act shall authorise any person to remove any fencing on or near the boundary of any land that has been or is intended to be acquired under this Act unless—

    • (a) Other fences have been erected so that all land adjacent to that land is as effectually protected against damage by trespass as it would be if the fences were not removed; or

    • (b) The owner of the adjacent land has agreed in writing to the removal of the fencing.

    Compare: 1928 No 21 s 33

34 Owner may require severed land to be taken
  • (1) Where part of the landholding of any person is taken compulsorily under this Act, that person may require the Minister or local authority, as the case may be, to take as a public work for the purposes of this section any other part of the holding where by reason of the taking that other part would become significantly—

    • (a) More costly to retain at the same standard as previously; or

    • (b) Less useful to that person.

    (2) Should any dispute arise as to whether or not any of the circumstances set out in this section apply to the land, the owner of the land may apply to the Environment Court for a determination of the matter. The decision of the Environment Court shall be final and binding on both parties.

    (3) The Minister or local authority may subdivide, develop, provide access to, set apart, or dispose of any land taken under this section.

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 31 March 1987, by section 2(7) Public Works Amendment Act (No 2) 1987 (1987 No 67) by substituting the words a public for the words an essential.

    The words Environment Court in subsection (2) were substituted, as from 2 September 1996, for the words Planning Tribunal pursuant to section 6(2)(a) Resource Management Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 160).

35 Acquisition or taking of land not to operate as merger of interests
  • The acquisition or taking of any land under this Act shall not operate as a merger of interests unless or until the Minister or local authority requests that such merger be noted against the title affected by the District Land Registrar and the merger is so noted.

Defining middle line of road or railway

36 Procedures for defining middle line
  • [Repealed]

    Section 36 was repealed, as from 1 October 1991, by section 362 Resource Management Act 1991 (1991 No 69).

36A Transitional procedures for defining middle line
  • Where a notice has been issued in the Gazette defining the middle line of a road or railway line under sections 36 to 39 of this Act, that notice shall continue to have effect until its expiry or until the fifth anniversary of the date of commencement of the Resource Management Act 1991, whichever date first occurs, as if sections 36 to 39 of this Act had not been repealed.

    This section was inserted, as from 1 October 1991, by section 362 Resource Management Act 1991 (1991 No 69).

37 Land affected by middle line notice may be taken by Proclamation
  • [Repealed]

    Sections 37 to 39 were repealed, as from 1 October 1991, by section 362 Resource Management Act 1991 (1991 No 69).

38 Middle line notice to lapse after certain period
  • [Repealed]

    Sections 37 to 39 were repealed, as from 1 October 1991, by section 362 Resource Management Act 1991 (1991 No 69).

39 Registration of middle line notice may be cancelled
  • [Repealed]

    Sections 37 to 39 were repealed, as from 1 October 1991, by section 362 Resource Management Act 1991 (1991 No 69).

Part 3
Dealing with land held for public works

39A Interpretation
  • In this Part of this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, Minister means the Minister of Lands.

    This section was inserted, as from 1 April 1988, by section 11 Public Works Amendment Act 1988 (1988 No 43).

40 Disposal to former owner of land not required for public work
  • (1) Where any land held under this or any other Act or in any other manner for any public work—

    • (a) Is no longer required for that public work; and

    • (b) Is not required for any other public work; and

    • (c) Is not required for any exchange under section 105 of this Act—

    the chief executive of the department within the meaning of section 2 of the Survey Act 1986 or local authority, as the case may be, shall endeavour to sell the land in accordance with subsection (2) of this section, if that subsection is applicable to that land.

    (2) Except as provided in subsection (4) of this section, the chief executive of the department within the meaning of section 2 of the Survey Act 1986 or local authority, unless—

    • (a) He or it considers that it would be impracticable, unreasonable, or unfair to do so; or

    • (b) There has been a significant change in the character of the land for the purposes of, or in connection with, the public work for which it was acquired or is held—

    shall offer to sell the land by private contract to the person from whom it was acquired or to the successor of that person—

    • (c) At the current market value of the land as determined by a valuation carried out by a registered valuer; or

    • (d) If the chief executive of the department within the meaning of section 2 of the Survey Act 1986 or local authority considers it reasonable to do so, at any lesser price.

    (2A) If the chief executive of the department within the meaning of section 2 of the Survey Act 1986 or local authority and the offeree are unable to agree on a price following an offer made under subsection (2) of this section, the parties may agree that the price be determined by the Land Valuation Tribunal.

    (3) Subsection (2) of this section shall not apply to land acquired after the 31st day of January 1982 and before the date of commencement of the Public Works Amendment Act (No 2) 1987 for a public work that was not an essential work.

    (4) Where the chief executive of the department within the meaning of section 2 of the Survey Act 1986 or local authority believes on reasonable grounds that, because of the size, shape, or situation of the land he or it could not expect to sell the land to any person who did not own land adjacent to the land to be sold, the land may be sold to an owner of adjacent land at a price negotiated between the parties.

    (5) For the purposes of this section, the term successor, in relation to any person, means the person who would have been entitled to the land under the will or intestacy of that person had he owned the land at the date of his death; and, in any case where part of a person's land was acquired or taken, includes the successor in title of that person.

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 1 April 1988, by section 12 Public Works Amendment Act 1988 (1988 No 43) by omitting the expressions Commissioner and Commissioner of Works and substituting the words chief executive of the Department of Lands. It was further amended, as from 1 February 1990, by section 9(3) Survey Amendment Act (No 3) 1989 (1989 No 139) by changing references from the Department of Lands to the Department of Survey and Land Information.

    Subsection (1) was further amended, as from 1 July 1996, by section 5 Survey Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 55) by substituting the words chief executive of the department within the meaning of section 2 of the Survey Act 1986 for the words chief executive of the Department of Survey and Land Information.

    Subsection (1)(b) was amended, as from 31 March 1987, by section 2(7) Public Works Amendment Act (No 2) 1987 (1987 No 67) by substituting the words other public for the word essential.

    Subsection (2) was substituted, as from 1 November 1982, by section 2 Public Works Amendment Act 1982 (1982 No 182).

    Subsection (2) was amended, as from 1 April 1988, by section 12 Public Works Amendment Act 1988 (1988 No 43) by omitting the expressions Commissioner and Commissioner of Works and substituting the words chief executive of the Department of Lands. It was further amended, as from 1 February 1990, by section 9(3) Survey Amendment Act (No 3) 1989 (1989 No 139) by changing references from the Department of Lands to the Department of Survey and Land Information.

    Subsection (2) was further amended, as from 1 July 1996, by section 5 Survey Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 55) by substituting the words chief executive of the department within the meaning of section 2 of the Survey Act 1986 for the words chief executive of the Department of Survey and Land Information.

    Subsection (2A) was inserted, as from 1 November 1982, by section 2 Public Works Amendment Act 1982 (1982 No 182).

    Subsection (2A) was amended, as from 1 July 1996, by section 5 Survey Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 55) by substituting the words chief executive of the department within the meaning of section 2 of the Survey Act 1986 for the words chief executive of the Department of Survey and Land Information.

    Subsection (3) was substituted, as from 31 March 1987, by section 2(7) Public Works Amendment Act (No 2) 1987 (1987 No 67).

    Subsection (4) was amended, as from 1 April 1988, by section 12 Public Works Amendment Act 1988 (1988 No 43) by omitting the expressions Commissioner and Commissioner of Works and substituting the words chief executive of the Department of Lands. It was further amended, as from 1 February 1990, by section 9(3) Survey Amendment Act (No 3) 1989 (1989 No 139) by changing references from the Department of Lands to the Department of Survey and Land Information.

    Subsection (4) was further amended, as from 1 July 1996, by section 5 Survey Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 55) by substituting the words chief executive of the department within the meaning of section 2 of the Survey Act 1986 for the words chief executive of the Department of Survey and Land Information.

41 Disposal of former Maori land when no longer required
  • Notwithstanding anything in sections 40 and 42 of this Act, where any land to which section 40(2) of this Act applies was, immediately before its taking or acquisition,—

    • (b) Beneficially owned by more than 4 persons; and

    • (c) Not vested in any trustee or trustees—

    the chief executive of the department within the meaning of section 2 of the Survey Act 1986 or local authority, as the case may be, shall—

    • (d) Comply with the requirements of section 40 of this Act; or

    Paragraph (a) was substituted, as from 1 July 1993, by section 362(1) Te Ture Whenua Maori Act 1993 (1993 No 4).

    Section 41 (that part after paragraph (c)) was amended, as from 1 April 1988, by section 13 Public Works Amendment Act 1988 (1988 No 43) and, as from 1 February 1990, by section 9(3) Survey Amendment Act (No 3) 1989 (1989 No 139), by substituting the words chief executive of the Department of Survey and Land Information for the words Minister of Lands.

    Section 41 (that part after paragraph (c)) was amended, as from 1 July 1996, by section 5 Survey Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 55) by substituting the words chief executive of the department within the meaning of section 2 of the Survey Act 1986 for the words chief executive of the Department of Survey and Land Information.

    Paragraph (e) was amended, as from 1 July 1993, by section 362(1) Te Ture Whenua Maori Act 1993 (1993 No 4) by substituting the expression section 134 of Te Ture Whenua Maori Act 1993 for the expression section 436 of the Maori Affairs Act 1953.

42 Disposal in other cases of land not required for public work
  • (1) Where—

    • (a) Any offer to sell land under section 40(2) of this Act has not been accepted within 40 working days or such further period as the chief executive of the department within the meaning of section 2 of the Survey Act 1986 or local authority considers reasonable; or

    • (b) Any land is no longer required for a public work and subsections (2) and (4) of section 40 of this Act do not apply,—

    the chief executive of the department within the meaning of section 2 of the Survey Act 1986 or local authority may—

    • (c) Cause the land to be offered for sale to the owner of any adjacent land at a price fixed by a registered valuer; or

    • (d) Cause the land to be offered for sale by public auction, public tender, private treaty, or by public application at a specified price.

    (2) The chief executive of the department within the meaning of section 2 of the Survey Act 1986 or local authority shall ensure that public notice is given of every public auction or invitation for public tenders or applications under this section, and that written notice of it is served on the person from whom the land was acquired if he can be readily ascertained, and on every owner of land adjoining the land proposed to be sold, not later than 20 working days before the date fixed for the auction or for the closing of tenders or applications, as the case may be.

    (3) Subject to section 40(2) of this Act, where any land held for a Government work—

    • (a) Is not required for that work; or

    • (b) For any other reason the Minister considers it expedient to do so—

    the Minister, without complying with any other requirements of this section, may by notice in the Gazette declare the land to be Crown land subject to the Land Act 1948, and thereupon, or from such later date as may be specified in that behalf in the notice, the land shall vest in the Crown as Crown land subject to that Act, and may be administered and disposed of under that Act.

    (4) Except in any case to which section 40(2) of this Act applies, where the Crown holds an interest in any land of the type referred to in subsection (3) of this section, and that interest is not a fee simple one in severalty, the Minister, without complying with any other requirements of this section, may—

    • (a) In the case of any lease, tenancy, easement, or profit à prendre, transfer or surrender it in accordance with its terms; or

    • (b) By notice in the Gazette declare that interest to be under the control and management of the department within the meaning of the Survey Act 1986.

    (5) Where any such interest is declared to be under the control and management of the department within the meaning of the Survey Act 1986 it may thereupon—

    • (a) In the case of any lease, tenancy, easement, or profit à prendre, be transferred or surrendered in accordance with its terms:

    • (b) In any other case, be administered and disposed of under the Land Act 1948 as if it were Crown land subject to that Act.

    (6) Any land disposed of under section 40 of this Act or under this section may be transferred by a memorandum of transfer under the Land Transfer Act 1952. Any such memorandum of transfer may contain a recital that the land being transferred shall be amalgamated with any other land in an existing certificate of title; and that recital shall be sufficient authority to the District Land Registrar to amend such certificate of title accordingly, without fee. On such amendment the land transferred shall become subject to and, where applicable, receive the benefit of, all encumbrances, easements, and other interests noted on the certificate of title.

    (7) Within 1 month after the registration of the memorandum of transfer, the transferor shall give to the Chief Surveyor written notice of the registration and of the full name, address, and occupation of the transferee.

    Compare: 1928 No 21 s 35; 1954 No 85 s 4(1)

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 1 July 1996, by section 5 Survey Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 55) by substituting the words chief executive of the department within the meaning of section 2 of the Survey Act 1986 for the words chief executive of the Department of Survey and Land Information wherever they appeared.

    Subsection (1)(a) was amended, as from 1 April 1988, by section 14 Public Works Amendment Act 1988 (1988 No 43) substituting the words chief executive of the Department of Lands for the word Commissioner where it occurs.

    Subsection (1)(d) was amended, as from 31 March 1987, by section 10(1) Public Works Amendment Act (No 2) 1987 (1987 No 67) by inserting the words private treaty.

    Subsection (1)(d) was amended, as from 31 March 1987, by section 10(2) Public Works Amendment Act (No 2) 1987 (1987 No 67) by inserting the proviso.

    Subsection (1)(d) proviso was repealed, as from 1 July 2003, by section 262 Local Government Act 2002 (2002 No 84). See sections 273 to 314 of that Act as to the savings and transitional provisions.

    Subsection (2) was amended, as from 1 July 1996, by section 5 Survey Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 55) by substituting the words chief executive of the department within the meaning of section 2 of the Survey Act 1986 for the words chief executive of the Department of Survey and Land Information.

    Subsection (4)(b) was amended, as from 1 April 1987, by section 65(1) Conservation Act 1987 (1987 No 65) by substituting the words Department of Lands for the words Land Settlement Board.

    Subsection (4)(b) was amended, as from 1 July 1996, by section 5 Survey Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 55) by substituting the words department within the meaning of the Survey Act 1986 for the words Department of Survey and Land Information.

    Subsection (5) was amended, as from 1 April 1987, by section 65(1) Conservation Act 1987 (1987 No 65) by substituting the words Department of Lands for the words Land Settlement Board.

    Subsection (5) was further amended, as from 1 July 1996, by section 5 Survey Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 55) by substituting the words department within the meaning of the Survey Act 1986 for the words Department of Survey and Land Information.

    Subsection (6) and (7) were substituted, as from 16 December 1983, by section 2 Public Works Amendment Act 1983 (1983 No 150).

42A Solatium payment for loss of opportunity to purchase
  • (1) Where—

    • (a) A recommendation made or deemed to have been made by the Waitangi Tribunal under section 8A of the Treaty of Waitangi Act 1975 for the return to Maori ownership of any land that is held for a public work takes effect as a final recommendation; or

    • (b) Any provision of an Act of Parliament returns to Maori ownership any land that immediately before being so returned was held for a public work,—

    any person (being the person from whom that land was acquired or the successor of the person from whom that land was acquired) who would, but for section 8A(5) of the Treaty of Waitangi Act 1975 or the effect of the Act of Parliament by which the land was returned to Maori ownership, have received in respect of that land in the normal course of events an offer under section 40 or section 41 of this Act may, at the time at which the offer would have been made, apply to the Land Valuation Tribunal for a solatium payment from the Crown for the loss of the opportunity to purchase the land.

    (2) Every person who makes an application to the Land Valuation Tribunal under subsection (1) of this section shall, as soon as practicable after making that application, serve a copy of that application on the chief executive of the department within the meaning of section 2 of the Survey Act 1986.

    (3) Subject to subsection (4) of this section, the Land Valuation Tribunal shall, in assessing the amount of any solatium payment payable under this section, take into account—

    • (a) The fact that the person from whom the land was acquired was paid, at the time of acquisition, the then market price as agreed or assessed; and

    • (b) Any other payments made to the person from whom the land was acquired; and

    • (c) The fact that the offer under section 40 or section 41 would, in most cases, have been an offer to sell the land at the current market value of the land as determined by a valuation carried out by a registered valuer; and

    • (d) The reasonable likelihood of the offeree being financially capable of accepting the offer; and

    • (e) The degree of attachment that the offeree has to the land, including, in particular, the degree of attachment that exists by reason of the offeree or members of the offeree's family or both having been associated with the land over a considerable period of time; and

    • (f) The likely market value of the opportunity to purchase the land.

    (4) No solatium payment payable under this section in respect of the loss of the opportunity to purchase any land shall exceed $20,000.

    Sections 42A and 42B were inserted, as from 3 November 1995, by section 38 Waikato Raupatu Claims Settlement Act 1995 (1995 No 58).

    Subsection (2) was amended, as from 1 July 1996, by section 5 Survey Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 55) by substituting the words department within the meaning of section 2 of the Survey Act 1986 for the words Department of Survey and Land Information

42B Notice of right to apply for solatium payment
  • (1) Where the chief executive of the department within the meaning of section 2 of the Survey Act 1986 is advised by a State enterprise within the meaning of the State-Owned Enterprises Act 1986 that any land held by that State enterprise for a public work is no longer required for a public work, that chief executive shall ascertain—

    • (a) Whether an offer under section 40 or section 41 of this Act is required to be made to any person in respect of that land; and

    • (b) Whether, in his or her opinion, any person is entitled to apply to the Land Valuation Tribunal under section 42A of this Act for a solatium payment for the loss of the opportunity to purchase that land.

    (2) Where the chief executive of the department within the meaning of section 2 of the Survey Act 1986 ascertains, under subsection (1) of this section, that any person is, in the opinion of that chief executive, entitled to apply to the Land Valuation Tribunal under section 42A of this Act for a solatium payment in respect of the loss of the opportunity to purchase that land, that chief executive shall advise that person in writing of that person's entitlement.

    Sections 42A and 42B were inserted, as from 3 November 1995, by section 38 Waikato Raupatu Claims Settlement Act 1995 (1995 No 58).

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 1 July 1996, by section 5 Survey Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 55) by substituting the words department within the meaning of section 2 of the Survey Act 1986 for the words Department of Survey and Land Information

    Subsection (2) was amended, as from 1 July 1996, by section 5 Survey Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 55) by substituting the words department within the meaning of section 2 of the Survey Act 1986 for the words Department of Survey and Land Information

43 Land may be sold on deferred payments
  • Any land held for a public work and proposed to be sold pursuant to section 40 or section 42 of this Act may be sold on deferred payments extending over such period and on such terms and conditions, including a deposit, as the Minister or the local authority, as the case may be, may determine.

    Compare: 1928 No 21 s 36

44 Application of purchase money
  • The purchase money or instalments of purchase money of land sold under section 40, section 42, or section 43 of this Act shall—

    • (a) Be paid into a Crown Bank Account or a Departmental Bank Account in accordance with the Public Finance Act 1989; or

    • (b) Be paid into and form part of the general revenues of the local authority—

    as the case may require.

    Section 44 was substituted, as from 8 August 1991, by section 2 Public Works Amendment Act 1991 (1991 No 87).

    Section 44 was amended, as from 1 July 1998, by section 16(1) Local Government Amendment Act (No 3) 1996 (1996 No 83) by omitting the words Subject to section 104 of the Local Authorities Loans Act 1956,.

45 Land held for public work may be leased, etc
  • (1) If any land is held for any public work under this or any other Act or in any other manner, the Minister or local authority, as the case may be, may grant a lease or tenancy of the land or a licence to occupy the land on such terms and conditions as he or it may think fit.

    (2) [Repealed]

    (3) [Repealed]

    (4) [Repealed]

    (5) All rents and profits derived from land under this section shall—

    • (a) Be paid into a Crown Bank Account or a Departmental Bank Account in accordance with the Public Finance Act 1989; or

    • (b) Be paid into the bank account of the Crown agency (within the meaning of the Public Finance Act 1989) holding or managing the land; or

    • (c) Be paid into the general revenues of the local authority or controlling authority—

    as the case may require.

    (6) The Minister or local authority may at any time accept the surrender of any lease, tenancy, or licence to occupy granted under this section.

    Compare: 1928 No 21 s 39

    Subsections (2) to (4) were repealed, as from 29 July 1995, by section 8(2) Transit New Zealand Amendment Act 1995 (1995 No 42).

    Subsection (5) was substituted, as from 8 August 1991, by section 3 Public Works Amendment Act 1991 (1991 No 87). The definition of Crown agency referred to in paragraph (b) was repealed, as from 21 December 1992, by section 3(6) Public Finance Amendment Act 1992 (1992 No 142).

46 Sale and removal of timber and coal from land held for public work
  • (1) The Minister may, by notice in the Gazette, authorise the sale and removal of timber or coal on or under any land vested in the Crown for a public work.

    (2) Nothing in subsection (1) of this section shall limit the liability of the Crown for any damage that may be caused by reason of the removal of any such timber or coal.

    (3) Nothing in this section shall derogate from the provisions of the Resource Management Act 1991.

    Compare: 1928 No 21 s 40; 1971 No 25 s 245

    Subsection (3) was substituted, as from 1 October 1991, by section 362 Resource Management Act 1991 (1991 No 69).

47 Issue of certificates of title to land held for public work
  • (1) Except as provided in subsection (4) of this section, where any land has become vested in the Crown or a local authority under this Act or any former Act relating to public works, the District Land Registrar, on the completion of such surveys (if any) as may be necessary, shall at the request of the Minister or local authority issue a certificate of title for the estate in the land or part of the land specified in the request in the name of the Crown or local authority, as the case may require, and that certificate of title shall include a reference to the purposes (if any) for which the land is held, and may be subject to any relevant encumbrances or restrictions.

    (2) Any instrument which relates to the land in any such certificate of title and which is duly executed by a person having the necessary authority may thereafter be registered in accordance with the provisions of the Land Transfer Act 1952.

    (3) Where any District Land Registrar issues any certificate of title under this section he shall not prepare any duplicate of the certificate of title unless the Minister or local authority so requests; and, where no request is made for the preparation of a duplicate of the certificate of title at the time when the request is made for the issue of the certificate of title—

    • (a) The certificate of title shall be held in the register, and for all the purposes of the Land Transfer Act 1952 the certificate of title so held shall be deemed to be the duplicate certificate of title, and any duplicate of it thereafter prepared and issued at the request of the Minister or local authority shall be deemed to be the certificate of title:

    • (b) While the held copy of the certificate of title is the only copy of the certificate of title which has been prepared it shall be endorsed to that effect.

    (4) Nothing in this section shall apply to any land vested in the Crown in respect of which provision is made by any other Act for the issue of a certificate of title.

    Compare: 1952 No 58 s 19

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 16 December 1983, by section 3 Public Works Amendment Act 1983 (1983 No 150) by substituting the words for the estate in the land or part of the land specified in the request for the words for the land.

48 Easement may be granted over land held for public work
  • The Crown or the local authority having control of the public work, as the case may be, may from time to time grant to any person any easement in, through, over, or under any land held for a public work, subject to such conditions and payment of rent as the Crown or the local authority thinks fit, including, except where otherwise specifically agreed, revocation without compensation on 3 months' notice in writing.

    Compare: 1928 No 21 s 41

49 Dealing with strata
  • Every power conferred by this Act on the Minister or a local authority, as the case may be, to sell or let or lease any land held for a public work, or to grant an easement in respect of any such land, shall include the power to sell or let or lease, or grant any easement in respect of, together with or separately from the surface of the land,—

    • (a) The whole or any portion of the air space above the land:

    • (b) The whole or any portion of the subsoil of the land.

    Compare: 1962 No 41 s 5

50 Transfer of existing public works
  • (1) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Act or in any other Act, but subject to section 40 of this Act, any existing public work or part of any existing public work may be disposed of by the Minister to a local authority, or by a local authority to the Minister or another local authority, for a public work, whether of the same kind or not, if reasonable provision for satisfying the requirements of the public interest in that work will continue to exist.

    (2) Any agreement relating to the sale and purchase of a public work pursuant to this section may contain such provisions as the Minister and the local authority, or the 2 or more local authorities, think fit.

    (3) If any agreement under this section involves a change of the ownership of any land, the land may be taken by the local authority or the Minister, as the case may require, by declaration under section 20 of this Act, and the provisions of this Act as to the disposal of land held for a public work shall not apply.

    Compare: 1945 No 45 s 35

51 Prohibiting acquisition of rights by adverse user of land held for public work
  • (1) Notwithstanding any statute of limitation, no title to any land held for any public work, and no right, privilege, or easement in, upon, or over any such land, shall be acquired by possession or user adversely to or in derogation of the title of the Crown or of any local authority in which the land is vested.

    (2) The provisions of subsection (1) of this section shall be in addition to and not in derogation from the provisions of section 64 of the Land Transfer Act 1952.

    Compare: 1935 No 27 s 12

52 Setting apart Crown land, public reserve, etc, for public work
  • (1) Subject to subsections (2) and (3) of this section, if the whole or any part of—

    • (a) A public reserve is required for any public work; or

    • (b) Any Crown land, or public foreshore and seabed, is required for any public work; or

    • (c) Any wildlife management reserve, wildlife refuge, or wildlife sanctuary within the meaning of the Wildlife Act 1953 is required for any public work; or

    • (d) Any land held for a Government work is required for another Government work—

    the Minister may, by notice in the Gazette, declare the land to be set apart for that work without complying with any of the provisions of this Act in respect of the acquisition of other land for that purpose.

    (2) The whole or any part of a public reserve shall not be set apart under subsection (1) of this section without the consent of the Minister of Conservation, given after consultation with the administering body (if any) of the reserve.

    (3) Land shall not be set apart under subsection (1) of this section without the consent of—

    • (a) The Minister of Conservation, if it is a conservation area within the meaning of the Conservation Act 1987 or is managed by the Department of Conservation under section 61 or section 62 of that Act:

    • (b) The Minister of Transport or the Minister of Conservation, as may be appropriate, if it is part of the public foreshore and seabed:

    • (c) The Minister of Conservation, if it is a wildlife management reserve, wildlife refuge, or wildlife sanctuary within the meaning of the Wildlife Act 1953.

    (4) Subject to subsections (6) to (8) of this section, if the whole or any part of any land held by a local authority (other than a road, access way, or service lane) is required for another local work to be undertaken by that local authority, the Minister, on receiving a written request by the local authority signed by its chief executive, may by notice in the Gazette declare the land to be set apart for that other local work.

    (5) The whole or any part of a public reserve held by a local authority shall not be set apart under this Act for a public work to be undertaken by the same local authority unless the land is designated for the work in the district plan of the territorial authority.

    (6) Every request by a local authority under subsection (4) of this section shall contain particulars of the land affected, of the work for which it is held, and of the work for which it is proposed to set the land apart.

    (7) A statutory declaration by the chairperson or mayor or the chief executive of the local authority to the effect that the local authority is authorised by law to undertake the work for which it is proposed to set the land apart may be accepted by the Minister as sufficient evidence of that fact.

    (8) Where the provisions of section 32 of this Act are not applicable, the local authority shall attach to the request to the Minister a plan in triplicate of the survey of the land, approved by the Chief Surveyor, showing accurately the position and extent of the land proposed to be set apart.

    Compare: 1928 No 21 s 25; 1952 No 58 ss 4, 20; 1962 No 41 s 3

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 31 March 1987, by section 2(7) Public Works Amendment Act (No 2) 1987 (1987 No 67) by omitting the words section 40 of this Act and.

    Subsection (1)(b) was amended, as from 25 November 2004, by section 103(1) Foreshore and Seabed Act 2004 (2004 No 93) by substituting the words public foreshore and seabed for the words foreshore or seabed owned by the Crown.

    Subsection (2) was amended, as from 1 April 1987, by section 65(1) Conservation Act 1987 (1987 No 65) by substituting the word Conservation for the word Lands.

    Subsection (3)(a) was substituted, as from 1 April 1988, by section 15 Public Works Amendment Act 1988 (1988 No 43).

    Subsection (3)(aa) and (ab) was inserted, as from 1 April 1987, by section 65(1) Conservation Act 1987 (1987 No 65) and repealed, as from 1 April 1988, by section 15 Public Works Amendment Act 1988 (1988 No 43).

    Subsection (3)(b) was amended, as from 1 April 1987, by section 65(1) Conservation Act 1987 (1987 No 65) by inserting the words or the Minister of Conservation, as may be appropriate.

    Subsection (3)(b) was amended, as from 25 November 2004, by section 103(1) Foreshore and Seabed Act 2004 (2004 No 93) by substituting the words public foreshore and seabed for the words foreshore or seabed.

    Subsection (3)(c) was amended, as from 1 April 1987, by section 65(1) Conservation Act 1987 (1987 No 65) by substituting the word Conservation for the words Internal Affairs.

    Subsection (4) was amended, as from 1 July 2003, by section 262 Local Government Act 2002 (2002 No 84) by substituting the words chief executive for the words principal administrative officer. See sections 273 to 314 of that Act as to the savings and transitional provisions.

    Subsection (5) was amended, as from 1 July 2003, by section 262 Local Government Act 2002 (2002 No 84) by substituting the words district plan for the words district scheme. See sections 273 to 314 of that Act as to the savings and transitional provisions.

    Subsection (7) was amended, as from 1 July 2003, by section 262 Local Government Act 2002 (2002 No 84) by substituting the words chairperson or mayor or the chief executive for the words Chairman or Mayor or the principal administrative officer. See sections 273 to 314 of that Act as to the savings and transitional provisions.

Part 4
Gazetting, revocation, amendment, and registration of documents

52A Interpretation
  • In this Part of this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, Minister means the Minister of Lands.

    Section 52A was inserted, as from 1 April 1988, by section 16 Public Works Amendment Act 1988 (1988 No 43).

53 Proclamations and declarations not to take effect until gazetted
  • Except as provided in section 55 of this Act, a Proclamation or declaration issued under this Act or under any former Public Works Act shall not be held or deemed to have taken or to take effect until it was or is published in the Gazette or such later date as may be specified in the Proclamation or declaration.

    Compare: 1928 No 21 s 26

54 Revocation of Proclamation or declaration taking land
  • (1) If at any time after the issue or making of any Proclamation or declaration taking or acquiring land for a public work under this Act, and before the payment or award of any compensation in respect of its taking, it is found that the land or any part of it is not required for the purpose for which it was taken, the Governor-General may by a subsequent Proclamation, or the Minister may by a subsequent declaration, published in the Gazette, revoke the former Proclamation or declaration either wholly or so far as he thinks necessary.

    (2) The former Proclamation or declaration shall thereupon, to the extent to which it has been so revoked, be void and of no effect as from the date on which it was made.

    (3) Any registration which in respect of the taking or acquisition of that land has been effected by the District Land Registrar or any other person pursuant to section 57 of this Act, or pursuant to any other authority in that behalf, shall thereupon be cancelled and be deemed to have been of no effect as from the date on which it was made, to the same extent to which the said Proclamation or declaration has been so revoked.

    (4) Any person who has or had any interest in the land so acquired or taken and who has, in respect of that interest suffered any loss or damage by reason of the Proclamation or declaration shall be entitled to recover compensation for that loss or damage under this Act in the same manner as if it were compensation payable under this Act.

    (5) Compensation under subsection (4) of this section shall be recovered from—

    • (a) The Minister, in the case of any Proclamation or declaration relating to a Government work:

    • (b) The local authority, in the case of any Proclamation or declaration relating to a local work.

    (6) A Proclamation or declaration may be revoked under this section whether made before or after the commencement of this Act.

    Compare: 1928 No 21 s 27

55 Amending or revoking documents
  • If any Proclamation, Order in Council, notice, declaration, or other document executed under this Act is found to contain any error in form or substance, or if any error in form or substance exists in or in relation to its making or gazetting, the Governor-General, Governor-General in Council, Minister, or other authorised person, as the case may require, may in a subsequent document of the same type amend or revoke the first-mentioned document to correct the error, and the subsequent document shall be deemed to have taken effect on the same date that the first-mentioned document took effect.

56 Minor misdescription not to invalidate documents
  • The validity of any Proclamation, Order in Council, or declaration under this Act shall not be affected by any misdescription in it of the land or of any interest in the land if sufficient information appears on the face of the Proclamation, Order in Council, or declaration, to enable the District Land Registrar to satisfy himself of the land intended to be affected.

    Compare: 1928 No 21 s 330A; 1973 No 44 s 20

57 Plan and Proclamation or declaration to be registered
  • (1) Except as provided in section 58 of this Act, the Minister shall cause a copy of every Proclamation or declaration taking or acquiring or setting apart land and of any plan referred to in it not already held by the District Land Registrar, to be registered without fee in the office of the District Land Registrar.

    (2) If the land is not subject to the Land Transfer Act 1952

    • (a) The District Land Registrar shall cause an entry of the Proclamation or declaration and plan to be made under the proper heading or title in the index book of the Deeds Register Office; and

    (3) An error in any Proclamation or declaration shall not of itself prevent its registration in respect of the titles to land validly affected.

    (4) If the land is subject to the Land Transfer Act 1952

    • (a) The District Land Registrar shall register the Proclamation or declaration and plan against the land:

    • (b) Any person in possession of the Crown grant, certificate of title, or other instrument evidencing the title to the land shall, upon receiving notice from the District Land Registrar or the Minister or local authority in that behalf, deliver up to him such grant, certificate of title, or other instrument to be wholly or partially cancelled, as the case may require; and every person who refuses or neglects so to deliver up any such instrument commits an offence against this Act:

    • (c) The District Land Registrar shall issue free of charge to the registered proprietor of the land not taken a certificate of title for such land, unless—

      • (i) In the circumstances the District Land Registrar considers such issue to be unwarranted; or

      • (ii) A Crown grant has not been issued for it.

    (5) No person having in his possession any such Crown grant, certificate of title, or other instrument shall be entitled to receive any compensation under this Act until such instrument is delivered up to the District Land Registrar.

    Compare: 1928 No 21 s 28

58 Proclamation or declaration not registrable to be lodged with Chief Surveyor
  • In the case of a Proclamation or declaration taking, acquiring, or setting apart any land which is not subject to the Land Transfer Act 1952, and dealings with which are not registrable under the Deeds Registration Act 1908, the Minister shall cause a copy of it to be lodged in the office of the Chief Surveyor, and the Chief Surveyor shall cause the land included in the Proclamation or declaration to be shown upon the proper plans and records of the district affected by the Proclamation or declaration in such manner as to prevent the land being disposed of in any manner at variance with the Proclamation or declaration.

    Compare: 1928 No 21 s 29

Part 5
Compensation

Preliminary

59 Interpretation
  • In this Part of this Act and in Part 6 of this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,—

    Claimant means any person claiming compensation under this Act

    Land Valuation Tribunal or Tribunal means a Land Valuation Tribunal established under the Land Valuation Proceedings Act 1948; and the expression Land Valuation Tribunal or Tribunal, when used in relation to any land transaction, means the particular Land Valuation Tribunal to which any application or matter arising under this Act and relating to that land or transaction has been made or referred

    Minister means the Minister of Lands

    Minister: inserted, as from 1 April 1988, by section 17(1) Public Works Amendment Act 1988 (1988 No 43).

    Notified, in relation to any land, means—

    • (a) Made the subject of a requirement by a Minister of the Crown, a local authority, or a network utility operator under section 168 of the Resource Management Act 1991, or by a heritage protection authority under section 189 of that Act, or by any such body or person under clause 4 of Part 1 of Schedule 1 to that Act or under the corresponding provisions of any former enactment; or

    • (b) Designated for a public work or a project or work, or made the subject of a heritage order, included in an operative or proposed district plan under the Resource Management Act 1991; or

    • (c) Made subject to a notice of intention to take, or to the powers conferred by a middle line notice, issued under this Act; or

    • (d) [Repealed]

    • (e) Made the subject of negotiations under section 17 of this Act or a notice under section 18(1) of this Act, in which case the date of notification shall be the date on which the negotiations commenced or the date of the service of the notice, as the case may be:

    Notified: paragraphs (a) and (b) of this definition were substituted, as from 1 October 1991, by section 362 Resource Management Act 1991 (1991 No 69).

    Notified: paragraph (d) of this definition was repealed, as from 1 July 2003, by section 262 Local Government Act 2002 (2002 No 84). See sections 273 to 314 of that Act as to the savings and transitional provisions.

    Notifying authority means any person or local authority who or which has the financial responsibility for any public work in respect of which any land has been notified

    Owner, in relation to any land, includes any person who is in occupation of the land under any lease, sublease, or licence, or any renewal of it, granted by the owner of the fee simple, or the lessee, of the land (other than a weekly or monthly tenancy agreement); and also includes a tenant for life of the land and a beneficial owner of the land

    Respondent means the Minister in the case of Government works and the local authority in the case of local works.

    Compare: 1928 No 21 s 101A; 1970 No 145 s 6; 1975 No 138 s 30(1)

Entitlement

60 Basic entitlement to compensation
  • (1) Where under this Act any land—

    • (a) Is acquired or taken for any public work; or

    • (b) Suffers any injurious affection resulting from the acquisition or taking of any other land of the owner for any public work; or

    • (c) Suffers any damage from the exercise (whether proper or improper and whether normal or excessive) of—

      • (i) Any power under this Act; or

      • (ii) Any power which relates to a public work and is contained in any other Act—

    and no other provision is made under this or any other Act for compensation for that acquisition, taking, injurious affection, or damage, the owner of that land shall be entitled to full compensation from the Crown (acting through the Minister) or local authority, as the case may be, for such acquisition, taking, injurious affection, or damage.

    (2) Where any compensation is payable under subsection (1) of this section to any person who is the lessee under any lease granted by the Crown or the local authority that acquired or took any land that is subject to the lease, that person shall not be entitled to any damages arising from the breach of any express or implied—

    • (a) Covenant for quiet enjoyment; or

    • (b) Covenant not to derogate from the grant contained in that lease.

    Compare: 1928 No 21 s 42(1)

    Subsection (1)(a) and (b) were amended, as from 31 March 1987, by section 2(7) Public Works Amendment Act (No 2) 1987 (1987 No 67) by substituting the word public for the word essential.

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 1 April 1988, by section 18 Public Works Amendment Act 1988 (1988 No 43) by substituting the words Crown (acting through the Minister) for the word Minister.

61 Exceptions to right to compensation
  • (1) Compensation shall not be payable in respect of—

    • (a) Any land taken for a road, motorway, or railway under this Act where the right to make a road over the land is otherwise reserved to the Crown, and has not lapsed or become barred:

    (2) If—

    • (a) Any road or service lane or access way, or a reserve for any such purpose; or

    • (b) Any other land—

    has been declared Government road or motorway or acquired by the Crown for any purpose, and the land comprising it was originally taken, purchased, or otherwise acquired by a territorial authority with the assistance of a subsidy, grant, or other payment paid or made by the Crown or the New Zealand Transport Agency, the compensation payable shall be reduced by the same proportion as the amount of that subsidy, grant, or payment bore to the full purchase price or compensation paid by the territorial authority.

    Compare: 1928 No 21 s 42(2); 1972 No 132 s 8(1)

    The reference to Transit New Zealand in subsection (2) replaced, as from 1 October 1989, a reference to the National Roads Board pursuant to section 116(4) Transit New Zealand Act 1989 (1989 No 75).

    Section 61(2)(b): amended, on 1 August 2008, by section 50(1) of the Land Transport Management Amendment Act 2008 (2008 No 47).

62 Assessment of compensation
  • (1) The amount of compensation payable under this Act, whether for land taken, land injuriously affected, or otherwise, shall be assessed in accordance with the following provisions:

    • (a) Subject to the provisions of sections 72 to 76 of this Act, no allowance shall be made on account of the taking of any land being compulsory:

    • (b) The value of land shall, except as otherwise provided, be taken to be that amount which the land if sold in the open market by a willing seller to a willing buyer on the specified date might be expected to realise, unless—

      • (i) The assessment of compensation relates to any matter which is not directly based on the value of land and in respect of which a right to compensation is conferred under this or any other Act; or

      • (ii) Only part of the land of an owner is taken or acquired under this Act and that part is of a size, shape, or nature for which there is no general demand or market, in which case the compensation for such land and the injurious affection caused by such taking or acquisition may be assessed by determining the market value of the whole of the owner's land and deducting from it the market value of the balance of the owner's land after the taking or acquisition:

    • (c) Where the value of the land taken for any public work has, on or before the specified date, been increased or reduced by the work or the prospect of the work, the amount of that increase or reduction shall not be taken into account:

    • (d) The special suitability or adaptability of the land, or of any natural material acquired or taken under section 27 of this Act, for any purpose shall not be taken into account if that purpose is a purpose to which it could be applied only pursuant to statutory powers, or a purpose for which there is no market apart from the special needs of a particular purchaser or the requirements of any Government department or of any local authority:

    • (e) The Tribunal shall take into account by way of deduction from that part of the total amount of compensation that would otherwise be awarded on any claim in respect of a public work that comprises the market value of the land taken and any injurious affection to land arising out of the taking, any increase in the value of any land of the claimant that is injuriously affected, or in the value of any other land in which the claimant has an interest, caused before the specified date or likely to be caused after that date by the work or the prospect of the work:

    • (f) The Tribunal shall take into account, by way of deduction from the total amount of compensation that would otherwise be awarded, any increase in the value of the parcel of land in respect of which compensation is claimed that has occurred as a result of the exercise by the New Zealand Transport Agency of any power under section 91 of the Government Roading Powers Act 1989.

    (2) In this section, the term specified date means—

    • (a) In the case of any claim in respect of land of the claimant which has been taken pursuant to section 26 of this Act, the date on which the land became vested in the Crown or in the local authority, as the case may be:

    • (b) Where compensation is claimed under section 80 of this Act and the Minister or the local authority has (before the issue of the Proclamation) notified the Tribunal what land he or it proposes to take—

      • (i) The date of that notification; or

      • (ii) The date of the first entry upon the land for construction purposes; or

      • (iii) The date on which the land is first injuriously affected by the work; or

      • (iv) The date of any agreement made under section 80(1)(c) of this Act or any date specified in such an agreement—

      whichever is the earliest:

    • (c) In the case of any other claim in respect of land of the claimant which has been or is proposed to be taken for any work, the date on which the land became by Proclamation or declaration vested in the Crown or in the local authority, as the case may be, or the date on which the land was first entered upon for the purpose of the construction or the carrying out of the work, whichever is the earliest:

    • (d) In the case of any claim in respect of any work for which no land of the claimant has been taken and no land of the claimant is proposed to be taken, the date of the commencement of the execution of the portion of the work that causes damage to or injuriously affects the land of the claimant:

    • (e) [Repealed]

    (3) Where any lessor's or lessee's estate or interest in any land is taken or acquired under this Act, such estate or interest may, if required by its owner, for the purpose of assessing compensation under this Act, be valued separately from the freehold.

    Compare: 1944 No 31 s 29

    Section 62(1)(f): amended, on 1 August 2008, by section 50(1) of the Land Transport Management Amendment Act 2008 (2008 No 47).

    Subsection (1)(f) was amended, as from 1 October 1989, by section 116(4) Transit New Zealand Act 1989 (1989 No 75) by substituting the words Transit New Zealand Act 1989 for the words the National Roads Board of any power under section 156 of this Act.

    Section 62(2)(e): repealed, on 1 August 2008, by section 50(1) of the Land Transport Management Amendment Act 2008 (2008 No 47).

    Subsection (2)(e) was amended, as from 1 October 1989, by section 116 Transit New Zealand Act 1989 (1989 No 75) by substituting the words section 99 of the Transit New Zealand Act 1989 and section 88 of the Transit New Zealand Act 1989 for the words section 163 of this Act and section 153 of this Act, respectively.

63 Compensation for injurious affection where no land taken
  • (1) Where—

    • (a) Substantial injurious affection to a person's land is caused by the construction (but not the maintenance or operation) of a public work; and

    • (b) The injurious affection is not caused by changes of traffic flows arising out of the opening of any new road or motorway or the widening, upgrading, or deviation of an existing road; and

    • (c) There would exist a right of action at common law in respect of the injurious affection by the owner of the land against the Crown or the local authority, as the case may require,—

    the Crown (acting through the Minister) or local authority shall compensate that person to such extent as the injurious affection warrants.

    (2) In determining the existence of any right of action for the purposes of subsection (1)(c) of this section, the existence of any statutory authority or immunity that may be available to the Crown or local authority shall be disregarded.

    (3) The provisions of this section shall not apply where construction of that part of the public work which causes the injurious affection has been commenced before the claimant acquired the land that is injuriously affected.

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 1 April 1988, by section 19(a) Public Works Amendment Act 1988 (1988 No 43) by substituting the words Crown (acting through the Minister) for the word Minister.

    Subsection (2) was amended, as from 1 April 1988, by section 19(b) Public Works Amendment Act 1988 (1988 No 43) by substituting the word Crown for the word Minister.

64 Compensation for injurious affection to be assessed by reference to whole work
  • Where land is taken or acquired from any person for the purpose of constructing any public work which is to be situated partly on that land and partly on other land, compensation for injurious affection of the land retained by that person shall be assessed by reference to the effect of the whole of the public work on the land so retained and not only to the part situated on the land taken or acquired from that person.

    Compare: Land Compensation Act 1973, s 44(1) (UK)

    Section 64 was amended, as from 31 March 1987, by section 2(7) Public Works Amendment Act (No 2) 1987 (1987 No 67) by substituting the word public for the word essential in both places it occurs.

65 Compensation for land for which no general demand exists
  • (1) Where land that is taken or acquired for a public work was devoted to a purpose of such a nature that there is no general demand or market for land for that purpose, compensation may be assessed on the basis of the reasonable cost of equivalent reinstatement in some other place if the Land Valuation Tribunal or, in the case of any claim not before the Tribunal, the Minister or the local authority, is satisfied that such reinstatement is in good faith intended.

    (2) No person shall be entitled to compensation under this section unless—

    • (a) He was not a willing party to the taking or acquisition; or

    • (b) He was a willing party to the taking or acquisition principally because the land had been notified.

    Compare: Land Compensation Act 1961, s 5(5) (UK)

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 31 March 1987, by section 2(7) Public Works Amendment Act (No 2) 1987 (1987 No 67) by substituting the words a public for the words an essential.

66 Disturbance payments
  • (1) Subject to subsection (2) of this section, the owner of any land taken or acquired under this Act for a public work shall be entitled to recover compensation for any disturbance to his land and in particular to recover, where appropriate,—

    • (a) All reasonable costs incurred by him in moving from the land taken or acquired to other land acquired by him in substitution for the land taken or acquired, including—

      • (i) [Repealed]

      • (ii) The reasonable valuation and legal fees or costs incurred in respect of the land taken or acquired:

      • (iii) The reasonable valuation and legal fees or costs incurred in respect of the land acquired in substitution, but not exceeding the reasonable valuation and legal fees or costs which would be incurred in respect of land with a market value equal to the land taken or acquired:

      • (iv) The actual and reasonable costs incurred by him in transporting his goods and chattels and those of his family from the land taken or acquired to the land acquired in substitution, but not exceeding the reasonable costs of such transport by road over a distance of 80 kilometres, or such greater distance as is necessary to reach the nearest land that reasonably could have been acquired in substitution:

    • (b) An allowance for any improvements not readily removable from the land taken or acquired which are of particular use to a disabled owner or any disabled member of an owner's family and which are not reflected in the market value of the land.

    (2) No person shall be entitled to compensation under this section unless—

    • (a) He was not a willing party to the taking or acquisition; or

    • (b) He was a willing party to the taking or acquisition principally because the land had been notified.

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 31 March 1987, by section 2(7) Public Works Amendment Act (No 2) 1987 (1987 No 67) by substituting the words a public for the words an essential.

    Subsection (1)(a)(i) was repealed, as from 20 May 1999, by section 7 Stamp Duty Abolition Act 1999 (1999 No 61).

67 Compensation for loss on repayment of mortgage
  • (1) If, as a direct result of land being taken or acquired under this Act for a public work, any mortgage of that land has to be repaid in whole or in part, the mortgagor whose land is taken or acquired shall be entitled to an amount to compensate him for any loss incurred by reason of any difference in the interest rate fixed under the mortgage of the land taken or acquired and the rate fixed under the mortgage of the land acquired in substitution, during the term for which the principal provided for in the previous mortgage had been advanced, but such difference shall not be calculated on a new interest rate any greater than interest rates prevailing in the locality for an equivalent mortgage up to the balance of the outstanding principal and for the balance of the term.

    (2) No person shall be entitled to compensation under this section unless—

    • (a) He was not a willing party to the taking or acquisition; or

    • (b) He was a willing party to the taking or acquisition principally because the land had been notified.

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 31 March 1987, by section 2(7) Public Works Amendment Act (No 2) 1987 (1987 No 67) by substituting the words a public for the words an essential.

68 Compensation for business loss
  • (1) The owner of any land taken or acquired under this Act for a public work who has a business located on that land shall be entitled to compensation for—

    • (a) Business loss resulting from the relocation of the business made necessary by the taking or acquisition which loss, unless the owner and the Minister or local authority otherwise agree, shall not be determined until the business has moved and (if the circumstances so require) until sufficient time has elapsed since the relocation of the business to enable the extent of the loss to be quantified; or

    • (b) Loss of the goodwill of any such business, if—

      • (i) The land is valued on the basis of its existing use; and

      • (ii) The owner gives such assurances and undertakings not to dispose of the goodwill and not to engage in any similar trade or business as may be required by the Minister or local authority.

    (2) No person shall be entitled to compensation under this section unless—

    • (a) He was not a willing party to the taking or acquisition; or

    • (b) He was a willing party to the taking or acquisition principally because the land had been notified.

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 31 March 1987, by section 2(7) Public Works Amendment Act (No 2) 1987 (1987 No 67) by substituting the words a public for the words an essential.

69 Offer of compensation when entry made
  • (1) Subject to sections 99 to 101 of this Act, where entry is made by the Crown on land pursuant to a notice defining the middle line of a road, limited access road, motorway, or railway, and no agreement for the payment or determination of compensation has been made, the owner of any estate or interest in the land entered on shall be entitled on application to the Minister to be made a formal offer of compensation for the taking of his estate or interest in the land entered upon.

    (2) Subject to subsection (5) of this section, the amount of the offer shall be such as the Minister considers adequate to fairly compensate the owner for his estate or interest.

    (3) Unless the Minister and the owner otherwise agree, the offer shall be subject to the owner, before settlement, giving vacant possession of the land (if applicable) and supplying such details as the Minister may reasonably require in order to comply with sections 99 to 101 of this Act.

    (4) The offer shall be made to the owner within 1 month after the date of receipt of the application by the Minister and shall be open for acceptance for a period of 3 months after the date of the offer.

    (5) If the extent of land to be taken cannot be accurately defined when the offer is made, the offer shall be deemed to be an offer by way of compensation without prejudice to the right of the Minister to make an application under section 79 of this Act, or the right of the owner to bring a claim for compensation under this Act upon the issue of a Proclamation or declaration under this Act, and if the compensation so assessed is less than the amount paid to the owner by way of compensation, then the award of the Tribunal shall be for the payment by the claimant to the respondent of the amount of the difference and the costs of the inquiry.

    (6) Subject to subsection (5) of this section, the acceptance of any offer may at the option of the owner be in full and final settlement of compensation or without prejudice to the owner's right to have compensation determined under this Part of this Act.

    (7) Nothing in this section shall inhibit or delay the bringing of a claim for compensation under section 80 of this Act.

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 1 April 1988, by section 20 Public Works Amendment Act 1988 (1988 No 43) by substituting the word Crown for the word Minister where it first occurs.

70 Offer of compensation when land taken
  • (1) Subject to sections 99 to 101 of this Act, where any land is taken under this Act, and no agreement for the payment or determination of compensation has been made, the owner of any estate or interest in the land taken shall, notwithstanding the provisions of section 77 of this Act, be entitled on application to the Minister or local authority to be made a formal offer of compensation for his estate or interest in the land taken.

    (2) The provisions of subsections (2), (3), (4) and (6) of section 69 of this Act shall apply to the making of an offer under this section, and every reference in those subsections to the Minister shall be read as a reference to the Minister or the local authority, as the case may require.

71 Claimant's acts making execution of work more costly
  • (1) For the purposes of this section, the term relevant date means—

    • (a) The date on which notification was given under section 18(1)(a) of this Act; or

    as the case may be.

    (2) If the Land Valuation Tribunal considers that the claimant in respect of any land taken or acquired for a public work has at any time after the relevant date done anything on or under the land with the purpose and effect of rendering the execution of the work more difficult or costly, the Tribunal shall take into account, by way of deduction from the amount of compensation to be awarded, any increase in the cost of executing the work caused or likely to be caused thereby; and if the Tribunal considers such increase in cost exceeds the value of the land taken, the award shall be for the payment by the claimant to the respondent of the amount of such excess and the costs of the inquiry.

    (3) The carrying out of repairs or maintenance to any improvements on the land to a value not exceeding, in any 3-yearly period, 15 percent of the value of the improvements on that land as shown on the valuation roll for the district, shall for the purposes of this section be deemed not to have been done with the purpose and effect of rendering the execution of the work on that land more difficult or costly.

    (4) Where any such claimant has at any time after the relevant date done anything on or under the land with the effect of rendering the execution of the work more difficult or costly he shall be presumed to have done so with that purpose unless he proves that in so doing he took reasonable precautions to avoid that effect.

    (5) If the owner or occupier of any land wishes to do anything on or under the land which may cause the amount of compensation payable to him to be reduced under this section, he may apply for permission to do that thing on or under his land. Every such application shall specify what the applicant wishes to do, on what part of his land he proposes to do it, and the address to which any reply to him may be sent. Every such application shall be made in writing sent by post in a registered letter addressed in accordance with the following requirements:

    • (a) In the case of any land that is affected by a notice or a Proclamation defining the middle line of a railway that has been made or attested by the Minister of Railways or that is affected by a notice of intention to take that has been issued under the hand of the Minister of Railways, it shall be addressed to the Railways District Engineer of the district in which the land is situated:

    • (b) In the case of any land that is affected by any other Government work, it shall be addressed to the chief executive of the department within the meaning of section 2 of the Survey Act 1986 for the district in which the land is situated:

    • (c) In the case of any land that is affected by any local work, it shall be addressed to the local authority.

    (6) If on receiving any such application the Railways District Engineer or the chief executive of the department within the meaning of section 2 of the Survey Act 1986 or the local authority so requires, the applicant shall—

    • (a) Supply plans to the Railways District Engineer or the chief executive of the department within the meaning of section 2 of the Survey Act 1986 or the local authority, as the case may be, and place pegs in the ground, to show exactly what part of the land will be affected by the proposals; and

    • (b) Notify the Railways District Engineer or the chief executive of the department within the meaning of section 2 of the Survey Act 1986 or the local authority, as the case may be, when he has so placed the pegs in the ground—

    and for the purposes of subsection (7) of this section, the period between the date of any such requirement and the date of compliance with it shall not be taken into account.

    (7) The Railways District Engineer or the chief executive of the department within the meaning of section 2 of the Survey Act 1986 or the local authority may decline any application so made to him or it; and every such application that is not declined by notice in writing given to the applicant within 3 months after the date of the receipt of the application (exclusive of any period which is not to be taken into account in accordance with subsection (6) of this section) shall be deemed to have been granted, and anything done on or under the land after approval of that thing has been granted or is deemed to have been granted shall not be subject to the provisions of this section. Notice under this subsection may be given to any applicant by delivering it to him personally or by sending it to him by post in a registered letter addressed to him at the address specified in his application.

    (8) Any person whose application is declined under subsection (7) of this section may, within 15 working days after the receipt by him of the notice declining the application, appeal to the Environment Court against the declining of his application.

    (9) Every such appeal shall be made and determined by the Environment Court in the manner prescribed by the Resource Management Act 1991 and any regulations made under that Act.

    (10) The decision of the Environment Court on any such appeal shall be final and binding.

    Compare: 1928 No 21 s 81; 1948 No 39 s 21; 1952 No 58 s 9

    Subsection (1) was substituted, as from 1 October 1991, by section 362 Resource Management Act 1991 (1991 No 69).

    Subsection (2) was amended, as from 31 March 1987, by section 2(7) Public Works Amendment Act (No 2) 1987 (1987 No 67) by substituting the words a public for the words an essential.

    Subsection (5)(b) was amended, as from 1 April 1988, by section 21 Public Works Amendment Act 1988 (1988 No 43) by substituting the words chief executive of the Department of Lands for the words District Commissioner of Works wherever they occur. The words Department of Survey and Land Information replaced the words Department of Lands pursuant to section 9 Survey Amendment Act (No 3) 1989 (1989 No 139).

    Subsection (5)(b) was further amended, as from 1 July 1996, by section 5 Survey Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 55) by substituting the words chief executive of the department within the meaning of section 2 of the Survey Act 1986 for the words chief executive of the Department of Survey and Land Information.

    Subsection (6) was amended, as from 1 April 1988, by section 21 Public Works Amendment Act 1988 (1988 No 43) by substituting the words chief executive of the Department of Lands for the words District Commissioner of Works wherever they occur. The words Department of Survey and Land Information replaced the words Department of Lands pursuant to section 9 Survey Amendment Act (No 3) 1989 (1989 No 139).

    Subsection (6) was further amended, as from 1 July 1996, by section 5 Survey Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 55) by substituting the words chief executive of the department within the meaning of section 2 of the Survey Act 1986 for the words chief executive of the Department of Survey and Land Information.

    Subsection (7) was amended, as from 1 April 1988, by section 21 Public Works Amendment Act 1988 (1988 No 43) by substituting the words chief executive of the Department of Lands for the words District Commissioner of Works wherever they occur. The words Department of Survey and Land Information replaced the words Department of Lands pursuant to section 9 Survey Amendment Act (No 3) 1989 (1989 No 139).

    Subsection (7) was further amended, as from 1 July 1996, by section 5 Survey Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 55) by substituting the words chief executive of the department within the meaning of section 2 of the Survey Act 1986 for the words chief executive of the Department of Survey and Land Information.

    The words Environment Court in subsection (8) were substituted, as from 2 September 1996, for the words Planning Tribunal pursuant to section 6(2)(a) Resource Management Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 160).

    Subsection (9) was substituted, as from 1 October 1991, by section 362 Resource Management Act 1991 (1991 No 69).

    The words Environment Court in subsections (9) and (10) were substituted, as from 2 September 1996, for the words Planning Tribunal pursuant to section 6(2)(a) Resource Management Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 160).

Additional compensation

72 Additional compensation for acquisition of notified dwelling
  • (1) Subject to the provisions of this section, where any land that has been notified and that contains a dwelling used as a private residence is taken or acquired for the public work for which it was notified there shall be paid to the owner of the land the sum of $2,000 by way of solatium.

    (2) Compensation shall not be paid under subsection (1) of this section unless—

    • (a) Where the land has been acquired by an agreement which specifies a date for the giving of vacant possession, vacant possession of the land and all buildings and structures on the land has been given to the notifying authority on or before the specified date or such later date as the authority may in any case allow:

    • (b) Where—

      • (i) The land has been acquired by an agreement which does not specify a date for the giving of vacant possession; or

      • (ii) No agreement for sale has been entered into and the land has been taken by Proclamation—

      vacant possession of the land and all buildings and structures on the land has been given to the notifying authority within 1 month after the date on which the authority has served notice on the vendor or the person from whom the land was taken, as the case may be, that vacant possession is required, or within such longer period as the authority may in any case allow.

    (3) Compensation shall not be payable under subsection (1) of this section unless the person giving vacant possession—

    • (a) Was the owner, or the spouse, civil union partner, or de facto partner of the owner, of the land on the date on which it was notified, or, where the owner has died since that date, was the person beneficially interested in the land; and

    • (b) Was the owner of the land on the date on which vacant possession of the land and all buildings and structures on the land was given to the notifying authority; and

    • (c) The dwelling on the land was the principal place of residence of that person for a substantial part of the period between the date of notification and the date of so giving vacant possession; and

    • (d) Was not a willing party to the taking or acquisition of the land, or was a willing party to the taking or acquisition principally because the land had been notified.

    (4) If any payment of compensation under this section is to be made in respect of land that is owned by more than 1 person, the payment shall be made only to those owners who qualify for payment under subsection (3) of this section. If payment is to be made to more than 1 owner, the amount of the payment shall be apportioned between the owners in proportion to the shares in which they owned the land.

    (5) Subject to subsection (6) of this section, if any compensation is payable under this section to a lessee or sublessee of land under a lease or sublease which, on the date on which vacant possession was given to the notifying authority, will expire less than 5 years after that date, the amount of compensation shall be reduced so that the amount to be paid bears the same proportion to the amount of compensation that would otherwise be payable as the period from the date on which vacant possession was given to the date of expiry of the lease or sublease bears to a period of 5 years.

    (6) The amount of compensation under subsection (5) of this section shall not be reduced under this subsection to less than the amount that the lessee or sublessee would have received under section 75 of this Act had he been a weekly or a monthly tenant.

    (7) For the purposes of subsection (5) of this section, the date on which any lease or sublease containing a right of renewal will expire shall be deemed to be the date on which it would have expired if the right of renewal had been exercised.

    Compare: 1928 No 21 s 101B; 1970 No 145 s 6(1); 1975 No 138 s 30(1)

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 31 March 1987, by section 2(7) Public Works Amendment Act (No 2) 1987 (1987 No 67) by substituting the word public for the word essential.

    Subsection (3)(a) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 7 Relationships (Statutory References) Act 2005 (2005 No 3) by inserting the words , civil union partner, or de facto partner after the word spouse.

73 Assistance to purchase dwelling
  • (1) Subject to the provisions of this section, where any land that—

    • (a) Has been notified; and

    • (b) Contains a dwelling used as a private residence—

    is taken or acquired for the public work for which it was notified and the market value of the owner's interest in the land is insufficient to enable the owner to acquire another private residence of a standard reasonably equivalent to the residence on the land so taken or acquired, there may, in the discretion of the notifying authority, be advanced to the owner by the authority, in addition to the compensation otherwise payable under this Act, such amount as the authority considers reasonable to assist the owner to acquire another private residence of a reasonably comparable standard.

    (2) An advance shall not be made to an owner of land under subsection (1) of this section unless—

    • (a) The owner has given vacant possession of the land taken or acquired and all buildings and structures on the land to the notifying authority; and

    • (b) The owner was the owner of the land on the date on which vacant possession was so given; and

    • (c) The dwelling on the land was the principal place of residence of that person for a substantial part of the period between the date of notification and the date of so giving vacant possession; and

    • (d) The person giving vacant possession—

      • (i) Was not a willing party to the taking or acquisition of the land; or

      • (ii) Was a willing party to the taking or acquisition principally because the land had been notified.

    (3) Any money advanced under this section shall constitute a debt due by the person to whom it is paid to the notifying authority who or which paid it, and shall be a charge on the estate or interest of that person in the land acquired by him, or in the land on which a dwelling is constructed by him, with the assistance of such money, and notice of the charge may be registered against that land under the provisions of the Statutory Land Charges Registration Act 1928.

    (4) Except with the consent of the chief executive of the department within the meaning of section 2 of the Survey Act 1986 (where the notifying authority is the Minister) or the notifying authority (in any other case), a dealing in connection with any such estate or interest (other than a dealing which is not required to be executed by the registered proprietor) shall not be registered while a charge under subsection (3) of this section is registered against the land.

    (5) For the purposes of the Statutory Land Charges Registration Act 1928, notice of any charge under subsection (3) of this section and any certificate releasing any such charge, and any consent under subsection (4) of this section, may be signed by the chief executive of the department within the meaning of section 2 of the Survey Act 1986, where the notifying authority is the Minister.

    (6) Any money advanced under this section shall be repaid to the notifying authority at such reasonable times and on such reasonable terms and conditions (including interest) as may be specified by the notifying authority when making the advance.

    (7) If the owner considers that any provision specified by the notifying authority under subsection (6) of this section (other than as to the amount of money paid) is unreasonable he may within 20 working days after receiving advice of the provision apply to the Land Valuation Tribunal for a review of the provision.

    (8) On receipt of such an application the Land Valuation Tribunal shall review the provision and may confirm or alter it or may omit it and substitute some other reasonable provision.

    Compare: 1928 No 21 s 101C; 1975 No 138 s 30(1)

    Subsection (1)(b) was amended, as from 31 March 1987, by section 2(7) by Public Works Amendment Act (No 2) 1987 (1987 No 67) by substituting the word public for the word essential.

    Subsection (4) was amended, as from 1 April 1988, by section 22(a) Public Works Amendment Act 1988 (1988 No 43) by substituting the words chief executive of the Department of Lands for the words District Commissioner of Works.

    The reference to the Department of Lands in subsection (4) was replaced, as from 1 February 1990, by references to the Department of Survey and Land Information pursuant to section 9(3) Survey Amendment Act (No 3) 1989 (1989 No 139).

    Subsection (4) was further amended, as from 1 July 1996, by section 5 Survey Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 55) by substituting the words chief executive of the department within the meaning of section 2 of the Survey Act 1986 for the words chief executive of the Department of Survey and Land Information.

    Subsection (5) was amended, as from 1 April 1988, by section 22(b) Public Works Amendment Act 1988 (1988 No 43) by substituting the words the chief executive of the Department of Lands for the words a District Commissioner of Works.

    The reference to the Department of Lands in subsection (5) was replaced, as from 1 February 1990, by references to the Department of Survey and Land Information pursuant to section 9(3) Survey Amendment Act (No 3) 1989 (1989 No 139).

    Subsection (5) was further amended, as from 1 July 1996, by section 5 Survey Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 55) by substituting the words chief executive of the department within the meaning of section 2 of the Survey Act 1986 for the words chief executive of the Department of Survey and Land Information.

74 Assistance to purchase farm, commercial, or industrial property
  • (1) Subject to the provisions of this section, where any land that—

    • (a) Has been notified; and

    • (b) Is used for a farm or for a commercial or industrial undertaking—

    is taken or acquired for the public work for which it was notified, and the market value of the owner's interest is insufficient to enable the owner to acquire a similar interest in a farm or commercial or industrial property, as the case may be, of a standard reasonably equivalent to that so taken or acquired on which to continue to carry on farming or the commercial or industrial undertaking, as the case may be, there may, in the discretion of the notifying authority, be advanced to the owner, in addition to the compensation otherwise payable under this Act, such amount of money as the authority considers reasonable to assist him to acquire other land reasonably equivalent to that so acquired on which to continue to carry on farming or the commercial or industrial undertaking.

    (2) No money shall be advanced under subsection (1) of this section to any person unless that person—

    • (a) Was not a willing party to the taking or acquisition of the land; or

    • (b) Was a willing party to the taking or acquisition principally because the land had been notified.

    (3) Any money advanced under this section shall constitute a debt due by the person to whom it is paid to the notifying authority who or which paid it, and shall be a charge on the estate or interest of that person in the land acquired by him with the assistance of such money, and notice of the charge may be registered against that land under the provisions of the Statutory Land Charges Registration Act 1928.

    (4) Except with the consent of the chief executive of the department within the meaning of section 2 of the Survey Act 1986 (where the notifying authority is the Minister) or the notifying authority (in any other case) no dealing in connection with any such estate or interest (other than a dealing which is not required to be executed by the registered proprietor) shall be registered while a charge under this section is registered against the land.

    (5) For the purposes of the Statutory Land Charges Registration Act 1928, notice of any charge under this section and any certificate releasing any such charge, and any consent under this section, may be signed by the chief executive of the department within the meaning of section 2 of the Survey Act 1986, where the notifying authority is the Minister.

    (6) Any money advanced under this section shall be repaid to the notifying authority at such reasonable times and on such reasonable terms and conditions (including interest) as may be specified by the notifying authority when making the advance.

    Compare: 1928 No 21 s 101F; 1975 No 138 s 31(1)

    Subsection (1)(b) was amended, as from 31 March 1987, by section 2(7) Public Works Amendment Act (No 2) 1987 (1987 No 67) by substituting the word public for the word essential.

    Subsection (4) was amended, as from 1 April 1988, by section 23(a) Public Works Amendment Act 1988 (1988 No 43) by substituting the words chief executive of the Department of Lands for the words District Commissioner of Works.

    The reference to the Department of Lands in subsection (4) was replaced, as from 1 February 1990, by references to the Department of Survey and Land Information pursuant to section 9(3) Survey Amendment Act (No 3) 1989 (1989 No 139).

    Subsection (4) was further amended, as from 1 July 1996, by section 5 Survey Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 55) by substituting the words chief executive of the department within the meaning of section 2 of the Survey Act 1986 for the words chief executive of the Department of Survey and Land Information.

    Subsection (5) was amended, as from 1 April 1988, by section 23(b) Public Works Amendment Act 1988 (1988 No 43) by substituting the words the chief executive of the Department of Lands for the words a District Commissioner of Works.

    The reference to the Department of Lands in subsection (5) was replaced, as from 1 February 1990, by references to the Department of Survey and Land Information pursuant to section 9(3) Survey Amendment Act (No 3) 1989 (1989 No 139).

    Subsection (5) was further amended, as from 1 July 1996, by section 5 Survey Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 55) by substituting the words chief executive of the department within the meaning of section 2 of the Survey Act 1986 for the words chief executive of the Department of Survey and Land Information.

75 Compensation for tenants of residential and business premises
  • (1) Subject to the provisions of this section, where—

    • (a) Any land has been notified; and

    • (b) The land was, on the date on which it was notified, occupied by a weekly or monthly tenant; and

    • (c) The tenant was on that date in occupation of the land under a tenancy agreement which commenced before the land was taken or otherwise acquired by the notifying authority; and

    • (d) The tenant occupied the land continuously from that date to the date on which he vacated the land so that vacant possession could be given to the notifying authority—

    there may, in the discretion of the notifying authority, be paid to the tenant by the authority such compensation as is provided for in subsection (2) of this section, on receiving an application in that behalf from the tenant.

    (2) Subject to subsection (3) of this section, the amount of compensation payable under subsection (1) of this section shall be—

    • (a) In the case of a tenant who occupied the land for residential purposes, such sum of money as will fairly reimburse the tenant for—

      • (i) The actual and reasonable costs incurred by him in transporting his goods and chattels and those of his family to other accommodation, but not exceeding the reasonable costs of such transport by road over a distance of 80 kilometres, or such greater distance as is necessary to reach the nearest land that reasonably could have been acquired in substitution:

      • (ii) The value or loss in value of any floor coverings and soft furnishings that have been necessarily abandoned or spoilt or become less valuable as a result of moving to such other accommodation:

    • (b) In the case of a tenant who occupied the land for other purposes, such sum of money as will fairly reimburse him for the actual and reasonable costs incurred by him in transporting his equipment, plant, and stock to other accommodation, but not exceeding the reasonable costs of such transport by road over a distance of 80 kilometres, or such greater distance as is necessary to reach the nearest land that reasonably could have been acquired in substitution.

    (3) Compensation shall not be paid under this section unless—

    • (a) Not less than 10 working days' notice of the proposed move has been given by the tenant to the notifying authority; and

    • (b) Application for payment by the tenant is made to the notifying authority before the expiry of 2 months after the date on which the transport costs were incurred or on which the abandonment or spoiling of floor coverings or soft furnishings occurred, as the case may be.

    Compare: 1928 No 21 s 101E; 1970 No 145 s 6(1)

76 Refund of expenses where acquisition of land abandoned
  • (1) Subject to subsection (2) of this section, where—

    • (a) Land has been notified in any of the ways described in paragraph (a), paragraph (b), paragraph (c), or paragraph (d) of the definition of the term notified in section 59 of this Act, and the notification has subsequently been cancelled or withdrawn; or

    • (b) A Proclamation or declaration has been revoked under section 54 of this Act; or

    • (c) The Minister or a local authority has initiated negotiations for the acquisition for a public work of any land not previously advertised or available for sale, and the Minister or local authority discontinues the negotiations—

    the notifying authority, the Minister, or the local authority, as the case may be, shall, on receiving an application in that behalf from the owner of the land, pay to the owner such sum of money as will fairly reimburse him for the actual and reasonable costs and expenses incurred by him as a direct result of the notification, the issue of the Proclamation or declaration that has been revoked, or the initiation of the negotiations, as the case may be.

    (2) Payment shall not be made under this section unless the application for payment is made by the owner of the land to the notifying authority, or to the Minister or local authority, before the expiry of 6 months after the date on which the notification was cancelled or withdrawn, the Proclamation or declaration was revoked, or the owner was advised that negotiations would be discontinued, as the case may be.

    Compare: 1928 No 21 s 101D; 1970 No 145 s 6(1)

    Subsection (1)(c) was amended, as from 31 March 1987, by section 2(7) Public Works Amendment Act (No 2) 1987 (1987 No 67) by substituting the words a public for the words an essential.

The claim

77 By whom compensation may be claimed
  • A claim for compensation may be made by the owner of any land who claims to be entitled to compensation under this Act whether such person has or has not the power to sell and convey the land, or by any executor or administrator of such person; and any such claim on behalf of any beneficiary, ward, or mentally disordered person may be made by his trustee, guardian, or manager, respectively.

    Compare: 1928 No 21 s 47

78 Limitation of time for claiming compensation
  • (1) Subject to the provisions of this or any other Act, a claim for compensation under this Act or any former Act relating to public works shall not be made (in respect of any land taken) after a period of 2 years after the date of the Proclamation or declaration taking the land, or (in respect of any other claim under this Act) after a period of 2 years after the execution of the works or the exercise of the power out of which such claim has arisen or may arise.

    (2) For the purposes of this section the term execution of the works means the completion of the construction of any portion of a work where that portion in itself (and without reference to any other part of the work) causes the damage or injurious affection; and that portion of the work shall be deemed to be completed when anything further that may be required to be done to finish it will have no effect either to increase or lessen the damage or injurious affection.

    (3) Either period of 2 years referred to in subsection (1) of this section may, on application made either before or after the expiration of that period, be extended by the Minister or local authority, as the case may be, upon or subject to such conditions as he or it thinks fit, to such period (not exceeding 6 years after the date of the Proclamation or declaration taking the land or the date of execution of the work or the exercise of the power, as the case may require) as the Minister or local authority thinks fit.

    (4) The period of 2 years referred to in subsection (1) of this section shall, in the case of a claim in respect of damage arising out of the execution or operation of any irrigation works, be deemed to be a period of 2 years after the day on which the race or dam or other part of the works which in itself causes the damage is first filled for irrigation purposes to the level intended to be normal.

    (5) Any applicant under subsection (3) of this section who is dissatisfied with any decision made by the Minister or local authority under that subsection may appeal to the Tribunal in respect of that matter and the decision of the Tribunal shall be final.

    Compare: 1928 No 21 s 45; 1939 No 39 s 63; 1944 No 31 s 30

79 Minister or local authority may take proceedings to determine compensation if person entitled fails to make claim
  • (1) At any time after the expiration of 3 months after the date on which any person has acquired any right to make a claim for compensation, if that person has failed to make the claim, the Minister or the local authority may give notice in writing to that person of his or its intention, after the expiration of 4 months after the date on which the notice is given, to apply to the Land Valuation Tribunal to determine what amount of compensation (if any) shall be paid to that person in respect of the matters and land specified in the notice, and in respect of all claims arising at or about the same time which the claimant may have.

    (2) If after the expiration of that period of 4 months and of any extension of it which the Tribunal may allow on application made to it in that behalf within that period, the person to whom the notice has been given has failed to make the claim in accordance with section 82 of this Act, the Minister or the local authority, as the case may be, may apply to the Land Valuation Tribunal to determine what amount of compensation (if any) shall be paid to that person in respect of the matters and land specified in the application, and to fix a suitable date for the hearing of the application.

    (3) If application is made to the Tribunal under this section, notice of the application shall be given not less than 2 months before the date of the hearing of the application to the person whose rights are to be determined thereby, and that person may—

    • (a) Not less than 20 working days before the date fixed for the hearing of the application, file in the office of the Tribunal nearest to the place where the land is situated, and serve on the applicant, particulars of the claim (if any) which he makes in respect of the matters and land to which the application relates:

    • (b) Appear and be heard on the application or claim so filed.

    (4) Subject to the provisions of this section, the Tribunal shall proceed to hear the parties and to examine the claim (if filed), or if no claim is filed to examine the application as if it were a claim duly made by the person to whom the application relates, but if no claim has been filed in accordance with subsection (3)(a) of this section, but the person whose rights are to be determined has appeared and been heard, the applicant shall be entitled to an adjournment for a reasonable period if he or it wishes to make any further investigation of any matter arising in the claimant's evidence.

    (5) If the circumstances render it desirable to do so, the Tribunal may hear together 2 or more applications under this section.

    Compare: 1954 No 85 s 2

80 Accelerating hearing of compensation claims
  • (1) A claim for compensation in respect of the taking of any land of any person for any public work shall lie and may be enforced in accordance with the provisions of this Act notwithstanding that no Proclamation or declaration taking the land has issued if—

    • (a) The Minister or the local authority has issued a notice under section 18(1)(a) of this Act in respect of the land; or

    • (b) The execution has been completed of every portion of the work which will affect the amount of the land of that person which will have to be taken for the work or which will injuriously affect or damage the land of that person; or

    • (c) The Minister or local authority and the owner of the land to be taken for any work have agreed to the land being taken and to the compensation being assessed in accordance with this Part of this Act.

    (2) In any case to which subsection (1)(a) of this section applies, the claimant shall by notice in writing require the Minister or local authority to indicate whether the Minister or local authority intends to proceed with the acquisition of the claimant's land.

    (3) If the Minister or local authority confirms the intention to acquire the land or if paragraph (b) or paragraph (c) of subsection (1) of this section applies, the claimant shall proceed with the claim under this section and the making of such a claim shall operate for the purposes of section 17 of this Act as an agreement by the claimant under section 17 of this Act to the claimant's estate or interest in that land being taken subject to subsection (7) of this section and subject to the compensation to be paid being left to be determined under this Part of this Act.

    (4) If at the expiration of a period of 3 months from the date on which the notice pursuant to subsection (2) of this section was given to the Minister, or local authority—

    • (a) The Minister or local authority has not indicated in writing the intention to proceed with the acquisition of the claimant's land; or

    • (b) The notice given under section 18(1)(a) of this Act has not been withdrawn or has not lapsed,—

    then the claimant may advise the Minister or local authority in writing that the notice given under subsection (2) of this section is to constitute—

    • (c) An agreement by the claimant to the claimant's estate or interest in that land being taken, subject to subsection (7) of this section and subject to the compensation to be paid being left to be determined under this Part of this Act; or

    • (d) A withdrawal of the notice given in respect of the claimant's land under section 18(1)(a) of this Act.

    (5) In any case to which subsection (1)(b) of this section applies, the making of a claim under this section in respect of any land to be taken shall operate, for the purposes of section 17 of this Act, as an agreement by the claimant to the claimant's estate or interest in that land being taken subject to subsection (7) of this section and subject to the compensation to be paid being left to be determined under this Part of this Act.

    (6) Any requirement or claim made under this section shall—

    • (a) Operate to automatically withdraw any objection made by the claimant under section 23 of this Act to the taking of the same land; and

    • (b) Prevent the commencement or prosecution of any proceedings by or on behalf of the claimant to prevent or delay the execution of the work or the taking of the land which is the subject of the requirement or claim made under this section.

    (7) If a Proclamation or declaration taking or acquiring the land has not been issued when the Land Valuation Tribunal commences to hear any claim made under this section, the Minister or the local authority shall, at the commencement of the hearing, notify as nearly as may be what land (if any) is proposed to be taken; and the Tribunal shall hear the claim and assess compensation as if that land had been so taken.

    (8) For the purpose of any claim made under this section the forms prescribed in Schedules 3 and 4 to this Act may be varied to such extent as may be necessary to express the circumstances of the claim.

    Compare: 1952 No 58 s 7

    This section was substituted, as from 31 March 1987, by section 11(1) Public Works Amendment Act (No 2) 1987 (1987 No 67).

81 Public Trust may be ordered to represent infants, absentee owners, etc
  • (1) If any person with whom it is desired to enter into an agreement under section 17 or section 18 of this Act, or if any person who has or will have any right or title to claim compensation under this Act, is—

    • (a) An infant, a mentally disordered person, a person under some other legal disability, or a beneficiary under a trust, not having a guardian, manager, or trustee; or

    • (b) Of unknown whereabouts and has no known agent; or

    • (c) Unknown—

    and in the absence of steps taken to appoint a person to represent that person, the Minister or the local authority may, after notifying Public Trust, apply to a District Court for an order authorising Public Trust to act as if it were the legal guardian, manager, trustee, or agent, as the case may require, of that person.

    (2) On the making of such an order Public Trust shall for the purposes of this Act be deemed to be the legal guardian, manager, trustee, or agent of the person in respect of whom the order was made and, notwithstanding the provisions of any Act, rule of law, deed, or other instrument, may enter into an agreement with the Minister or local authority for the acquisition of the land under section 17 or section 18 of this Act or for the payment of the purchase price or compensation.

    (3) If Public Trust is unable to reach agreement with the Minister or local authority on the compensation to be paid it may, on behalf of any person referred to in subsection (1) of this section, make and pursue a claim in accordance with the provisions of this Part of this Act for any compensation payable under this Act.

    (4) In any case to which subsection (3) of this section applies, any period of time prescribed by or under this Act in respect of any such claim shall not commence to run before the date on which the order was made under subsection (1) of this section.

    (5) Any compensation payable pursuant to any such agreement with or claim by Public Trust shall be paid to Public Trust and shall become subject to the provisions of section 96 of this Act.

    Compare: 1928 No 21 ss 48, 49

    The heading to section 81 was amended, as from 1 March 2002, by section 170(1) Public Trust Act 2001 (2001 No 100), by substituting the words Public Trust for the words the Public Trustee. See clause 2 Public Trust Act Commencement Order 2002 (SR 2002/11).

    Section 81 was amended, as from 1 March 2002, by section 170(1) Public Trust Act 2001 (2001 No 100), by substituting the words Public Trust for the words the Public Trustee wherever they occur. See clause 2 Public Trust Act Commencement Order 2002 (SR 2002/11).

    Subsections (1) and (3) were amended, as from 1 March 2002, by section 170(1) Public Trust Act 2001 (2001 No 100), by substituting in each case the word it for the words he and him wherever they occur. See clause 2 Public Trust Act Commencement Order 2002 (SR 2002/11).

    Subsection (5) was amended, as from 1 March 2002, by section 170(1) Public Trust Act 2001 (2001 No 100), by substituting the words to Public Trust for the words into the Public Trust Office. See clause 2 Public Trust Act Commencement Order 2002 (SR 2002/11).

82 Particulars to be inserted in claim
  • (1) In order to obtain compensation the claimant shall serve upon the respondent a claim in writing, in one of the forms in Schedule 3 to this Act, stating—

    • (a) The several areas and descriptions of the land taken or to be taken or injuriously affected or damaged in respect of which he makes his claim, and the nature and particulars of his interest therein; and if he claims as owner and the land is encumbered, leased, or subject to any easement, he shall give particulars of that encumbrance, lease, or easement:

    • (b) The reference to any Gazette or other notice of taking of the land:

    • (c) Each matter on account of which he claims compensation, with full particulars of the nature and extent of the claim:

    • (d) The total amount claimed:

    • (e) The amount and date of any advance payment:

    • (f) His full name, together with his address, which address shall be deemed to be his address for service unless he gives written notice to the respondent of a change of address.

    (2) The claim shall, if it relates to the value of land and is for a sum of compensation in excess of $1,000, be accompanied by a valuation report signed by a registered valuer.

    Compare: 1928 No 21 s 51(1)

83 Serving of claims
  • (1) Claims for compensation under this Act shall be served as follows:

    • (a) Where the Minister is the respondent, by being sent by registered letter addressed to the chief executive of the department within the meaning of the Survey Act 1986 at the chief executive's office in Wellington or by being delivered at the office of the solicitor to the department within the meaning of the Survey Act 1986 in the office of the chief executive:

    • (b) Where the Minister of Railways is the respondent, by being sent by registered letter addressed to the General Manager of Railways at the New Zealand Railways Corporation Office at Wellington, or by being delivered at that office:

    • (c) Where a local authority is the respondent, by being sent by registered letter addressed to the local authority at its principal office, or by being delivered at that office.

    (2) In any such case, the claimant shall be entitled on demand to receive from the officer for the time being in charge of any such office a receipt stating the day on which the claim was delivered or received.

    Compare: 1928 No 21 s 51(2)

    Subsection (1)(a) was substituted, as from 1 April 1988, by section 24 Public Works Amendment Act 1988 (1988 No 43). The reference to the Department of Lands was replaced, as from 1 February 1990, by a reference to the Department of Survey and Land Information pursuant to section 9(3) Survey Amendment Act (No 3) 1989 (1989 No 139).

    Subsection (1)(a) was amended, as from 1 July 1996, by section 5 Survey Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 55) by substituting the words department within the meaning of the Survey Act 1986 for the words Department of Survey and Land Information.

84 Filing claims in District Court
  • At any time after the expiration of 30 working days after the service of any claim under section 83 of this Act, either the claimant or the respondent may file in the District Court nearest to where the land is situated a copy of the claim together with a notice in the form set out in Schedule 4 to this Act that he requires the claim to be heard by the Tribunal; and unless both the claimant and the respondent consent, the Tribunal shall not hear the claim earlier than 45 working days after the date of filing in the Court of that notice.

    Compare: 1928 No 21 s 53

85 Tribunal may require claimant or respondent to state particulars
  • (1) If the claimant does not give full particulars of his claim, or does not specify in his claim the amount claimed for each matter on account of which he claims compensation, the respondent may by notice in writing require him to furnish those particulars.

    (2) The claimant may, at any time after service of his claim on the respondent, by notice in writing require the respondent to furnish a reply to the claim, giving the reasons for not admitting the claim or any part of it.

    (3) If the particulars or reasons referred to in subsection (1) or subsection (2) of this section are not supplied at least 15 working days before the date appointed for the sitting of the Land Valuation Tribunal to hear the claim, the Tribunal may, if it thinks fit, on the application of either party made before or at the hearing—

    • (a) Order the party in default to furnish the particulars:

    • (b) Adjourn the hearing of the claim until the particulars are supplied and the party making application has had reasonable time to consider them:

    • (c) Order that the costs occasioned by the adjournment shall be borne by the party in default.

    Compare: 1928 No 21 s 52

86 Third party notice
  • (1) If the respondent considers that he or it is entitled to an indemnity from a third party in respect of the whole or any part of the claim, the respondent may serve upon that party a notice setting out the grounds of the claim to the indemnity and shall file a copy of it in the District Court nearest to where the land is situated.

    (2) The third party shall, as from the time of the service of the third party notice upon him, be a party to the action with the same rights, powers, obligations, and duties as the respondent.

87 Amendment of claim
  • (1) On the hearing of any claim for compensation under this Act, it shall not be lawful for the claimant to adduce evidence in relation to any matter not disclosed in the claim but he may, with the leave of the Land Valuation Tribunal, amend his claim in any particular.

    (2) Such leave shall be granted only on such terms and conditions as to notice to parties, payments of costs, or otherwise as the Tribunal thinks fit.

    Compare: 1928 No 21 s 74

The award

88 Award to be in writing
  • The Land Valuation Tribunal shall make its award in writing, which shall be drawn up and signed by the District Court Judge constituting the Tribunal or, as the case may be, who is the Chairman of the Tribunal, as soon as practicable after its making; and the District Court Judge shall deliver or transmit the award to the Registrar of the High Court in the district in which the land is situated who shall file it in that Court.

    Compare: 1928 No 21 s 90(1)

89 Separate sums to be awarded for items of claim
  • The Land Valuation Tribunal may not award a gross sum in respect of 2 or more items of any claim for compensation, but the Tribunal shall in respect of each item of the claim award a particular sum as compensation to be paid to the claimant, subject to such conditions as it may think equitable, or determine that no compensation is payable in respect of it.

    Compare: 1945 No 45 s 32

90 Costs in claims for compensation
  • (1) Subject to the provisions of this section, the costs of a hearing by the Land Valuation Tribunal under this Part of this Act shall be in the discretion of the Tribunal, which may direct to and by whom and in what manner those costs or any part of them shall be paid.

    (2) Where the respondent has made an offer of any amount for compensation and the compensation awarded is less than the amount so offered, the Tribunal may order the claimant to bear his own costs and to pay the costs of the respondent in so far as the costs of either party are incurred after the making of the offer.

    (3) If costs are not awarded in accordance with the provisions of subsection (2) of this section, the Tribunal shall, unless for special reasons it thinks it proper not to do so, order the respondent to bear his own costs and to pay the reasonable costs of the claimant.

    (4) Without limiting the generality of the provisions of subsection (3) of this section, it is hereby declared that the fact that the Tribunal in any case considers that the amount claimed was unreasonably high having regard to the compensation awarded or the evidence before the Tribunal, shall be a special reason that the Tribunal may take into consideration for the purposes of that subsection.

    Compare: 1939 No 39 s 64

91 Costs may be deducted from compensation awarded
  • Costs payable by the claimant may be deducted from the compensation payable to the claimant under the award; and if such costs exceed the compensation payable, the award shall be for the payment by the claimant of the amount of the excess.

    Compare: 1928 No 21 s 85

92 Costs in claims beyond jurisdiction of Land Valuation Tribunal
  • The power of awarding costs conferred upon the Land Valuation Tribunal by section 90 of this Act shall extend to cases in which it is determined that the Tribunal has no jurisdiction to hear and determine the claim for compensation or any particular portion of it, and any such award of costs in respect of such claim or part shall be dealt with and enforced in the same manner as an award of compensation.

    Compare: 1928 No 21 s 86

93 Costs in claims withdrawn or abandoned
  • When any claim for compensation is at any time after its making withdrawn or abandoned, whether wholly or in part, costs may be awarded by the Land Valuation Tribunal in respect of that claim or that part of it in the same manner as if the claim or part had been heard and determined by the Tribunal; and any such award of costs shall be dealt with and enforced in the same manner as an award of compensation.

    Compare: 1928 No 21 s 87

94 Interest on compensation money
  • The Land Valuation Tribunal may, if it thinks fit, order that there be included in the sum of any award interest at such rate as it thinks fit on the whole or any part of the award for the whole or any part of the period between the specified date or, where appropriate, the date on which the claimant gives vacant possession of the land (whichever is later) and the date of making of the award.

95 Finality of award and enforcement
  • (1) Subject to section 26 of the Land Valuation Proceedings Act 1948, the award shall be final as regards the amount awarded, but shall not be final as regards the right or title of the claimant or any other person to receive the amount awarded or any part of it.

    (2) If the sum awarded is not paid to Public Trust under section 96(a) of this Act within 45 working days after the filing of the award in the High Court, the award so made and filed shall have the effect of a judgment of the High Court, and may be enforced accordingly, subject to the provisions of this Act.

    Compare: 1928 No 21 s 90(3), (4)

    Subsection (2) was amended, as from 1 March 2002, by section 170(1) Public Trust Act 2001 (2001 No 100), by substituting the words to Public Trust for the words into the Public Trust Office. See clause 2 Public Trust Act Commencement Order 2002 (SR 2002/11).

96 When title doubtful compensation, etc, to be paid to Public Trust—
  • If any doubt or dispute arises as to the right of any person to receive any compensation awarded under this Act, or any purchase money or compensation agreed to be paid by the Minister or a local authority under this Act,—

    • (a) In the case of compensation exceeding $1,000 awarded by the Land Valuation Tribunal, the respondent may, within the period of 45 working days after the award has been filed in the High Court, cause the sum awarded to be paid to Public Trust; and Public Trust shall deal with and apply the money in such manner and shall pay it to such persons as the High Court, upon the application of any of the parties interested, may order:

    • (b) In the case of purchase money or compensation exceeding $1,000 agreed to be paid, the Minister or local authority, as the case may be, may pay the money to Public Trust; and the High Court may make such order in relation to it, upon the application of any of the parties interested, as it thinks just and proper; and Public Trust shall deal with and pay such purchase money or compensation in accordance with that order:

    • (c) In any case which may be heard or disposed of by the High Court under this section, that Court may order that all or any costs incurred in or in relation to the case, either before the Tribunal or the High Court, shall be paid by such of the parties, whether claimant, respondent, or a person so interested, or that such costs be apportioned between such parties in such manner respectively as the High Court may order; and that Court may vary or revoke any order previously made by the Tribunal as to costs:

    • (d) In the case of compensation not exceeding $1,000 awarded by the Tribunal, or purchase money, or compensation not exceeding $1,000 agreed to be paid, the Minister or local authority, as the case may be, may pay it to the parties entitled to the rents and profits of the land or to Public Trust to be disbursed by it as it thinks fit.

    Compare: 1928 No 21 s 91

    The heading to section 96 was amended, as from 1 March 2002, by section 170(1) Public Trust Act 2001 (2001 No 100), by substituting the words to Public Trust for the words into Public Trust Office. See clause 2 Public Trust Act Commencement Order 2002 (SR 2002/11).

    Paragraph (a) was amended, as from 1 March 2002 by section 170(1) Public Trust Act 2001 (2001 No 100), by substituting the words Public Trust for the words the Public Trustee wherever they occur. It was further amended by substituting the words to Public Trust for the words into the Public Trust Office. See clause 2 Public Trust Act Commencement Order 2002 (SR 2002/11).

    Paragraph (b) was amended, as from 1 March 2002 by section 170(1) Public Trust Act 2001 (2001 No 100), by substituting the words Public Trust for the words the Public Trustee wherever they occur. It was further amended by substituting the words to Public Trust for the words into the Public Trust Office. See clause 2 Public Trust Act Commencement Order 2002 (SR 2002/11).

    Paragraph (d) was amended, as from 1 March 2002 by section 170(1) Public Trust Act 2001 (2001 No 100), by substituting the words Public Trust for the words the Public Trustee wherever they occur. It was further amended by substituting the word it for the words he and him. See clause 2 Public Trust Act Commencement Order 2002 (SR 2002/11).

97 Compensation in case of limited interests, etc
  • (1) If compensation is awarded or compensation or purchase money has been agreed to be paid by the Minister or a local authority in respect of—

    • (a) Any land taken or purchased from any person having a partial or qualified interest only in the land and not entitled to sell or convey it; or

    • (b) Any permanent injury done to any land in respect of which a person has a partial or qualified interest only and does not have the right or capacity to sell it—

    the compensation or purchase money shall be dealt with as follows:

    • (c) If the compensation or purchase money amounts to $5,000 or more it shall be paid to Public Trust; and Public Trust shall apply it, upon an order of the High Court made on the petition of any person claiming any estate or interest in the money, to one or more of the following purposes:

      • (i) To the discharge of any debt or encumbrance affecting the land, or affecting any land settled therewith, or to the same or like uses, trusts, or purposes:

      • (ii) In the purchase of other land to be conveyed, limited, and settled upon the like uses, trusts, or purposes:

      • (iii) In removing any buildings on the land, or substituting others in their place:

      • (iv) In the purchase of such securities as the High Court may direct, to be settled in the same manner as the land:

      • (v) In payment to any party becoming absolutely entitled to it:

    • (d) If the compensation or purchase money is more than $250 but less than $5,000, it shall be paid to Public Trust, and Public Trust may apply it to any of the purposes referred to in paragraph (c) of this subsection without an order of the High Court, but in any such case Public Trust may, if it thinks fit, apply to the High Court for directions as to the purposes for which the compensation or purchase money shall be applied:

    • (e) If the compensation or purchase money is not more than $250 it shall be paid to the parties entitled to the rents and profits of the land; or, in the case of disability or incapacity of such parties, to their respective spouses, guardians, committees, or trustees, as the case may be.

    (2) The provisions of this section shall not prevent any person who had a partial or other qualified interest in the land to which interest he is solely entitled, and which he may absolutely sell or dispose of, from receiving any compensation or purchase money in respect of any interest to which he may be declared entitled under any award, or which has been agreed to be paid to him.

    (3) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (1) of this section, where the person having the partial or qualified interest in the land and not entitled to sell or convey it is a local authority, the compensation money or purchase money may be paid to the local authority.

    (4) The local authority shall record any money paid to it under subsection (3) of this section in a separate account and shall invest it separately; and shall expend it only for the permanent improvement of other land held for the same or like uses, trusts, and purposes or for all or any of the purposes set out in subparagraphs (i) and (ii) of subsection (1)(c) of this section, so that such application of the money will benefit persons substantially in the same locality.

    Compare: 1928 No 21 s 92; 1952 No 58 s 10

    Paragraphs (c) and (d) were amended, as from 1 March 2002, by section 170(1) Public Trust Act 2001 (2001 No 100), by substituting the words Public Trust for the words the Public Trustee wherever they occur. They were further amended by substituting the words to Public Trust for the words into the Public Trust Office. See clause 2 Public Trust Act Commencement Order 2002 (SR 2002/11).

    Paragraph (d) was amended, as from 1 March 2002 by substituting the word it for the word he.

98 Public Trust may invest compensation money
  • Until any compensation or purchase money deposited with Public Trust under this Act is applied as provided by section 96 or section 97 of this Act, Public Trust shall invest it in its common fund, or in such other investments as are authorised by law for the investment of trust funds, or partly in the Common Fund and partly in such other investments, as Public Trust thinks fit, and shall pay the annual proceeds of it to the party for the time being entitled to the rents and profits of the land in respect of which the compensation was awarded or compensation or purchase money was paid.

    Compare: 1928 No 21 s 93

    The heading to section 98 was amended, as from 1 March 2002, by section 170(1) Public Trust Act 2001 (2001 No 100), by substituting the words Public Trust for the words the Public Trustee. See clause 2 Public Trust Act Commencement Order 2002 (SR 2002/11).

    Section 98 was amended, as from 1 March 2002, by section 170(1) Public Trust Act 2001 (2001 No 100), by substituting the words Public Trust for the words the Public Trustee wherever they occur. It was further amended by substituting the words with Public Trust for the words in the Public Trust Office. It was further amended by substituting the words its common fund for the words the Common Fund of that office. See clause 2 Public Trust Act Commencement Order 2002 (SR 2002/11).

99 Mortgaged land
  • (1) If the land in respect of which compensation is awarded, or compensation or purchase money is agreed to be paid, is subject to a mortgage, the compensation or purchase money or so much of it as is required for the purpose shall, on the application of the mortgagee, be paid in discharge of the mortgage debt, or part of it, so far as the compensation or purchase money will go; and if the land is part of land subject to a mortgage debt, and the mortgagee requires a part of the debt to be discharged—

    • (a) The mortgagor and mortgagee may agree; or

    • (b) Failing agreement, the Tribunal shall determine—

    what part of the compensation or purchase money shall be paid in discharge of part of the mortgage debt, so that the remaining part of the mortgaged land constitutes as good security as before for the part of the mortgage debt remaining undischarged.

    (2) Notwithstanding anything in this section, the Minister or local authority, as the case may be, shall have a discretion to pay the mortgagor the full amount of any compensation where the compensation does not exceed $250, without incurring any liability to the mortgagee.

    (3) The expression mortgage debt in this section includes the interest payable on such mortgage up to 6 months beyond the day on which notice was received by the mortgagee of the land affected being taken under this Act.

    Compare: 1928 No 21 s 94

100 Land subject to rent charge
  • (1) If the land in respect of which compensation is awarded or compensation or purchase money is paid is subject to any rent charge—

    • (a) The owner of the land and the party entitled to the rent charge may agree; or

    • (b) Failing agreement, the Tribunal shall determine—

    what part of the compensation or purchase money shall be paid to the party entitled to rent charge in redemption of it.

    (2) If the land is part of land subject to any rent charge—

    • (a) The owner of the land and the party entitled to the rent charge may agree; or

    • (b) Failing agreement, the Tribunal shall determine—

    what part of the rent charge shall be redeemed and what part of the compensation or purchase money shall be paid in its redemption, so that the remaining part of the land subject to the rent charge shall be as good security as before for the part of the rent charge remaining unredeemed.

    (3) Notwithstanding anything in this section, the Minister or local authority, as the case may be, shall have a discretion to pay the owner of the land the full amount of any compensation where the compensation does not exceed $250, without incurring any liability to the holder of the charge.

    (4) In this section, the expression rent charge includes an annuity.

    Compare: 1928 No 21 s 95

101 Land on which rent payable
  • If the land in respect of which compensation is awarded or compensation or purchase money is paid is part of land in respect of which any rent is payable—

    • (a) The lessor and lessee may agree; or

    • (b) Failing agreement, the Tribunal shall determine—

    what part of that rent shall cease to be payable, so that the rent ceasing to be payable shall bear the same proportion to the whole rent as the value of the land in respect of which compensation is awarded or compensation or purchase money is paid bears to the value of the whole land.

    Compare: 1928 No 21 s 96

102 Funds from which compensation to be paid
  • Money payable as compensation or as costs under this Act shall—

    • (a) If payable by the Crown, be paid out of money appropriated by Parliament for the works in respect of which the claim for compensation arises:

    • (b) If payable by a local authority, be paid out of the funds of such local authority available for such purposes—

    but no member of a local authority shall be personally liable for any compensation or costs payable under this Act.

    Compare: 1928 No 21 s 100

    Section 102 was amended, as from 1 April 1988, by section 25(a) Public Works Amendment Act 1988 (1988 No 43) by substituting the word Crown for the word Minister. It was further amended, as from 1 April 1988, by section 25(b) of that Act by substituting the word no for the words neither the Minister nor any.

Part 6
Grants of land, etc, in lieu of compensation

103 Minister or local authority may grant easements, etc, in lieu of compensation
  • In any case where the amount of compensation or purchase money to be paid to any person is determined by agreement between that person and the Minister or a local authority, the Minister or that local authority may agree to grant to that person, his executors, administrators, assigns, and successors, any easement, right of way, right of occupation, or any other right, privilege, or concession in, upon, over, or under any land taken or reserved for the purpose of any public work, in satisfaction or part satisfaction of the compensation claimed by that person.

    Compare: 1928 No 21 s 97

104 Tribunal may award easements as compensation
  • In any case where the amount of compensation to be paid to any claimant is determined by the Land Valuation Tribunal, the respondent may offer and the Tribunal may award to the claimant, his executors, administrators, assigns, and successors, in satisfaction or part satisfaction of the compensation claimed, any easement, right of way, right of occupation, or any other right, privilege, or concession in, upon, over, or under any land taken or reserved for the purpose of any public work; and the Tribunal may by its award declare which (if any) of such easements, rights, privileges, or concessions so offered shall be granted to the claimant in satisfaction or part satisfaction of his claim to compensation.

    Compare: 1928 No 21 s 98

105 Granting of land as compensation where equivalent land not readily available
  • (1) Notwithstanding anything in section 62 of this Act, where any land which has been notified and which—

    • (a) Contains a dwelling which was occupied by the owner as a private residence for himself and his family (if any) immediately before the giving of vacant possession; or

    • (b) Was used by the owner personally for any purpose—

    is taken or acquired for the public work for which it was notified, and land reasonably equivalent to that so taken or acquired is not readily available on the market for sale or other disposition to the owner at a reasonable price for the re-establishment in the same area of his place of residence or other activity, the notifying authority, with the agreement of the owner, shall take all reasonable steps to grant to the owner in payment or satisfaction or part payment or satisfaction (subject to payment by way of equality of exchange where appropriate) of the compensation to which the owner may otherwise be entitled—

    • (c) Crown land or other land of the notifying authority not subject to any restriction on sale or other disposition; or

    • (d) Land held for any public work which is no longer required for any public work or which is no longer required for any purpose incidental to any public work; or

    • (e) Land acquired, and developed or built on under section 21 of this Act.

    (2) Subsection (1) of this section shall not apply in respect of the owner of any land unless the owner—

    • (a) Was the owner, or the spouse of the owner, of the land so taken or acquired on the date on which it was notified, or where the owner has died since that date, was the person beneficially interested in the land; and

    • (b) Was the owner of the land on the date on which the land was so taken or acquired by the notifying authority; and

    • (c) Was not a willing party to the taking or acquisition of the land, or was a willing party to the taking or acquisition principally because the land had been notified.

    (3) Any land granted under subsection (1) of this section shall be reasonably equivalent to the land so taken or acquired.

    (4) No Crown land shall be granted under subsection (1) of this section without the consent of the Minister having control of that land.

    (5) The owner of any land that has been notified may apply to the Tribunal for an order requiring the notifying authority to take action in accordance with subsection (1) of this section.

    (6) If the Tribunal is satisfied that the owner is a person to whom subsection (1) of this section applies, and that it would be just and proper to do so, it may order the notifying authority to act in accordance with that subsection.

    Compare: 1928 No 21 s 101H(1)-(3); 1976 No 165 s 4

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 31 March 1987, by section 2(7) Public Works Amendment Act (No 2) 1987 (1987 No 67) by substituting the word public for the word essential.

106 Granting of land as compensation in other cases
  • (1) Notwithstanding anything in section 62 or section 105 of this Act, there may be granted, with the agreement of the person entitled, in payment or satisfaction or in part payment or part satisfaction of the compensation payable to that person, for any land taken or acquired for a public work, or for any damage done or injurious affection caused by reason of the construction or use of a public work, any Crown land or any land held for any public work.

    (2) No Crown land shall be granted under subsection (1) of this section without the consent of the Minister having control of that land.

    Compare: 1928 No 21 s 99(1)

107 Provisions relating to grants of land in exchange
  • (1) In granting to the person so entitled any land under section 105 or section 106 of this Act, the Minister or local authority may enter into an agreement with that person for the repayment to the Crown or the local authority of any money agreed to be due by way of equality of exchange on such terms and conditions (including interest) as may be agreed upon by the notifying authority and that person.

    (2) If no agreement can be reached under subsection (1) of this section in respect of land to be granted under section 105 of this Act, as to the amount due by way of equality of exchange or as to the terms and conditions of repayment of any money due, the Minister or the local authority, or the person to whom the land is proposed to be granted, may apply to the Land Valuation Tribunal to fix the value of the property proposed to be so granted or the value of the land taken or acquired, or both, or to determine the terms and conditions of repayment.

    (3) Every application under subsection (2) of this section shall be made in accordance with Part 5 of this Act as if the application were a claim for compensation under that Part; and the said Part 5 shall, with the necessary modifications, apply in respect of every such application accordingly.

    (4) Any money agreed under subsection (1) of this section to be so due, or fixed by the Tribunal under subsection (2) of this section, shall constitute a debt due to the Crown or the local authority and shall be a charge on the estate or interest in the land so granted to that person, and an instrument of charge may be registered against that land under the provisions of the Statutory Land Charges Registration Act 1928.

    (5) Except with the consent of the chief executive of the department within the meaning of the Survey Act 1986 or General Manager of Railways (where the money is due to the Crown) or the local authority (where the money is due to the local authority), no dealing in connection with any such estate or interest (other than a dealing which is not required to be executed by the registered proprietor) shall be registered while a charge under subsection (4) of this section is registered against the land.

    (6) For the purposes of the Statutory Land Charges Registration Act 1928, notice of any charge under subsection (4) of this section and any certificate releasing any such charge, and any consent under subsection (5) of this section, may be signed by the chief executive of the department within the meaning of the Survey Act 1986 or the General Manager of Railways, or local authority, as the case may require.

    (7) On completion of such surveys (if any) as may be necessary, there shall be registered in the office of the District Land Registrar a certificate by the Minister, Minister of Railways, or the local authority, as the case may require, in the form set out in Schedule 5 to this Act.

    (8) If a certificate of title for the land has not been issued, the certificate issued under this section by the Minister or Minister of Railways shall have the same effect as a warrant issued under the hand of the Governor-General in accordance with section 12 of the Land Transfer Act 1952 and shall be deemed to be such a warrant; and the District Land Registrar shall without fee issue a certificate of title for the land in form No 1 in Schedule 1 to that Act.

    (8A) If a certificate of title for the land has been issued, the certificate issued under this section by the Minister or Minister of Railways shall be deemed to be a memorandum of transfer of the land described in it from the Crown to the person to whom the land is granted; and the District Land Registrar shall register it without fee.

    (9) Every certificate issued under this section by a local authority shall be deemed to be a memorandum of transfer of the land described in it from the local authority to the person to whom the land is granted; and the District Land Registrar shall register it without fee.

    (9A) Subject to subsection (9C) of this section, any certificate issued under this section may contain a recital that the land to which the certificate relates shall be amalgamated with any other land in an existing certificate of title; and that recital shall be sufficient authority to the District Land Registrar to amend such certificate of title accordingly, without fee. On such amendment the land granted shall become subject to and, where applicable, receive the benefit of, all encumbrances, easements, and other interests noted on the certificate of title.

    (9B) Where any land is so amalgamated, the District Land Registrar may, if he thinks fit, dispense with any survey that would otherwise be required for the purposes of the issue of a certificate of title under this section, and may issue a certificate of title limited as to parcels.

    (9C) Before including a recital in a certificate under subsection (9A) of this section, the Minister, Minister of Railways, or local authority, as the case may be, shall consult with the District Land Registrar as to whether or not it is practicable to amalgamate the land in an existing certificate of title and, if the District Land Registrar advises that it is not practicable to do so, no such recital shall be included in the certificate.

    (10) If the Chief Surveyor considers it necessary or expedient or if in any case the District Land Registrar so requests, before any land is granted to any person under this section the Chief Surveyor shall allocate a new description to the land, and shall forward to the District Land Registrar a copy of the description, and the Registrar shall amend his records accordingly.

    (11) The land comprised in any certificate of title issued pursuant to any certificate issued under subsection (8) of this section, shall, if not already subject to the Land Transfer Act 1952, become subject to that Act as from the date fixed by the last-mentioned certificate as the date of acquisition of title to it, and that date shall for all purposes whatever be deemed the ante-vesting date in the same manner as if the ante-vesting date had been inserted in a Crown grant of the land.

    (12) [Repealed]

    (13) [Repealed]

    (14) Where any land acquired under this Act is subject to or has the benefit of any encumbrance, lien, or interest, and land is to be granted in exchange under this section, any certificate of title issued under this section, with the consent of the person to whom the land is to be granted, may show that the land to which the certificate relates is to be subject to or is to have the benefit of any such encumbrance, lien, or interest that is specified in the certificate.

    (15) Every instrument creating or evidencing or affecting any such encumbrance, lien, or interest, and all covenants and other provisions expressed or implied therein, shall be construed as if the land for which the certificate of title is issued were the land, or (as the case may be) part of the land, to which the instrument relates.

    (16) On the issue of any such certificate of title so subject to any registered encumbrance, lien, or interest, the District Land Registrar shall enter in the appropriate register, and record on any relevant instrument, memorials showing that the land is affected by subsections (14) and (15) of this section and the certificate.

    (17) Where any land subject to any reservation or restriction is taken or acquired under this Act and land is to be granted under this section, the land so granted shall, unless the Minister or the Minister of Railways or the local authority otherwise directs, be issued subject to that reservation or restriction.

    (18) Every certificate issued under this section shall be conclusive evidence to the District Land Registrar of the matters required or permitted by this section to be therein stated, and that all consents required under this section have been obtained.

    (19) Within 1 month after the registration of a certificate under this section, the grantor shall give to the Chief Surveyor written notice of the registration and of the full name, address, and occupation of the grantee.

    Compare: 1928 No 21 ss 99, 101H(5)-(10); 1976 No 165 s 4

    Subsection (5) was amended, as from 1 April 1988, by section 26(a) Public Works Amendment Act 1988 (1988 No 43) by substituting the words chief executive of the Department of Lands for the words District Commissioner of Works.

    Subsection (5) was amended, as from 1 April 1988, by section 26(b) Public Works Amendment Act 1988 (1988 No 43) by substituting the words the chief executive of the Department of Lands for the words a District Commissioner of Works.

    Subsection (5) was further amended, as from 1 July 1996, by section 5 Survey Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 55) by substituting the words chief executive of the department within the meaning of the Survey Act 1986 for the words chief executive of the Department of Survey and Land Information.

    Subsection (6) was amended, as from 1 July 1996, by section 5 Survey Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 55) by substituting the words chief executive of the department within the meaning of the Survey Act 1986 for the words chief executive of the Department of Survey and Land Information.

    Subsection (7) was amended, as from 16 December 1983, by section 4(1) Public Works Amendment Act 1983 (1983 No 150) by omitting the words , in the case of land granted under section 105 of this Act, and in the form set out in Schedule 6 to this Act, in the case of land granted under section 106 of this Act.

    Subsection (8) was amended, as from 16 December 1983, by section 4(2) Public Works Amendment Act 1983 (1983 No 150) by substituting the words If a certificate of title for the land has not been issued, the for the word Every.

    Subsection (8A) was inserted, as from 16 December 1983, by section 4(3) Public Works Amendment Act 1983 (1983 No 150).

    Subsections (9A) to (9C) were inserted, as from 16 December 1983, by section 4(4) Public Works Amendment Act 1983 (1983 No 150).

    Subsection (10) was amended, as from 16 December 1983, by section 4(5) Public Works Amendment Act 1983 (1983 No 150) by substituting the words If the Chief Surveyor considers it necessary or expedient or if in any case the District Land Registrar so requests, before for the word Before.

    Subsections (12) and (13) were repealed, as from 16 December 1983, by section 4(6) Public Works Amendment Act 1983 (1983 No 150).

    Subsection (14) was substituted, as from 16 December 1983, by section 4(7) Public Works Amendment Act 1983 (1983 No 150).

    Subsection (19) was inserted, as from 16 December 1983, by section 4(8) Public Works Amendment Act 1983 (1983 No 150). See section 9 Survey Amendment Act (No 3) 1989 (1989 No 139) for the savings provisions.

107A Grant of lease or licence as compensation
  • (1) Notwithstanding anything in section 62 of this Act, where—

    • (a) The interest of a lessee or licensee in land is taken or acquired for a public work; and

    • (b) The lessee or licensee is entitled to compensation under section 105 of this Act—

    the notifying authority (unless the lessee or licensee is to be granted an estate in fee simple), with the agreement of the lessee or licensee, shall take all reasonable steps to grant to him a lease of any land, or a licence to occupy any land, described in paragraph (c), paragraph (d), or paragraph (e) of section 105(1) of this Act, in payment or satisfaction or part payment or satisfaction of the compensation to which the lessee or licensee may otherwise be entitled, subject to payment by way of equality of exchange where appropriate.

    (2) The provisions of subsections (3), (4), and (4A) of section 105 of this Act, with the necessary modifications, shall apply in respect of any lease or licence granted under this section.

    (3) The lessee or licensee of any land that has been notified may apply to the Tribunal for an order requiring the notifying authority to take action in accordance with subsection (1) of this section.

    (4) If the Tribunal is satisfied that the lessee or licensee is a person to whom subsection (1) of this section applies, and that it would be just and proper to do so, it may order the notifying authority to act in accordance with that subsection.

    (5) Subject to subsection (6) of this section, all rents and profits derived from any lease or licence granted under this section shall be paid into—

    • (a) The Crown Bank Account, where the notifying authority is a Minister of the Crown:

    • (b) The appropriate revenue account of the notifying authority, in any other case.

    (6) Any lease or licence granted in accordance with this section in respect of Crown land shall be granted by the Commissioner of Crown Lands, and shall be administered under the Land Act 1948.

    (7) Nothing in this section shall oblige the notifying authority to grant a lease or licence on terms more favourable to the lessee or licensee than the lease or licence taken or acquired by the notifying authority.

    Section 107A was inserted, as from 16 December 1983, by section 5 Public Works Amendment Act 1983 (1983 No 150).

    Subsection (1)(a) was amended, as from 31 March 1987, by section 2(7) Public Works Amendment Act (No 2) 1987 (1987 No 67) by substituting the words a public for the words an essential.

    The words Crown Bank Account in subsection (5)(a) were substituted, as from 1 July 1989, for the words Consolidated Account pursuant to section 83(7) Public Finance Act 1989 (1989 No 44).

    Subsection (6) was amended, as from 1 April 1987, by section 65(1) Conservation Act 1987 (1987 No 65) by substituting the words Director-General of Lands for the words Land Settlement Board. The reference to the Director-General of Lands was replaced, as from 1 February 1990, by a reference to the Commissioner of Crown Lands pursuant to section 9(2) Survey Amendment Act (No 3) 1989 (1989 No 139).

108 Execution of certificates
  • Without affecting the authority of any other person to execute documents made or issued under this Act, the chief executive of the department within the meaning of the Survey Act 1986, and the General Manager of Railways in respect of railway land transactions, may on behalf of the Minister and the Minister of Railways, respectively, execute any certificate of grant of land under section 107 of this Act.

    Section 108 was amended, as from 1 April 1988, by section 27 Public Works Amendment Act 1988 (1988 No 43) by substituting the words chief executive of the Department of Lands for the words District Commissioner of Works for the district where the land is situated. The reference to the Director-General of Lands was replaced, as from 1 February 1990, by a reference to the Director-General of Survey and Land Information pursuant to section 9(2) Survey Amendment Act (No 3) 1989 (1989 No 139).

    Section 108 was further amended, as from 1 July 1996, by section 5 Survey Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 55) by substituting the words chief executive of the department within the meaning of the Survey Act 1986 for the words chief executive of the Department of Survey and Land Information.

109 Execution of certificates on behalf of local authority
  • Except as otherwise specially provided, any certificate of grant of land by a local authority under section 107 of this Act may be executed on its behalf by the chief executive of the local authority.

    Section 109 was amended, as from 1 July 2003, by section 262 Local Government Act 2002 (2002 No 84) by substituting the words chief executive for the words principal administrative officer. See sections 273 to 314 of that Act as to the savings and transitional provisions.

Part 7
Surveys and investigations

109A Interpretation
  • In this Part of this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, Minister means any Minister of the Crown.

    This section was inserted, as from 1 April 1988, by section 28 Public Works Amendment Act 1988 (1988 No 43).

110 Powers of entry for certain survey purposes
  • (1) Subject to subsections (2) to (4) of this section, any person authorised either specifically or generally by the Minister or local authority, as the case may require, may, for the purposes of carrying out any public work or any proposed public work, and subject to the limitations of any authorisation so granted, enter and re-enter any land at reasonable times, with or without such assistance, aircraft, boats, vehicles, appliances, machinery, and equipment as are reasonably necessary for making any survey in accordance with survey regulations made under the Survey Act 1986.

    (2) Before exercising any of the powers conferred by subsection (1) of this section, the Minister or local authority shall, where practicable, give reasonable notice to the owner or occupier of the land, as the case may require, of the intention to exercise those powers.

    (3) If, under subsection (1) of this section, entry is made on any land without notice, advice that entry has been so made shall be given to the owner or occupier of the land as soon thereafter as is practicable, and if the owner or occupier cannot be found, the notice shall be displayed in a prominent place on the land.

    (4) Any person exercising any power under subsection (1) of this section shall have with him, and shall produce if required to do so, evidence of—

    • (a) His authority; and

    • (b) His identity.

    Compare: 1928 No 21 s 107

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 1 April 1987, by section 81(1) Survey Act 1986 (1986 No 123) by substituting the expression Survey Act 1986 for the expression Surveyors Act 1966.

111 Powers of entry for other survey and investigation purposes
  • (1) Subject to subsections (2) to (5) of this section, any person authorised either specifically or generally by the Minister or local authority, as the case may require, may, for the purposes of carrying out any public work or any proposed public work, and subject to the limitations of any authorisation so granted—

    • (a) Enter and re-enter any land at reasonable times, with or without such assistants, aircraft, boats, vehicles, appliances, machinery, and equipment as are reasonably necessary for making any kind of survey or investigation:

    • (b) Dig and bore into the land and remove samples of it:

    • (c) Erect temporary buildings on the land:

    • (d) Set out the lines of any works on the land.

    (2) Unless the owner and occupier of the land otherwise agree, the powers conferred by subsection (1) of this section shall not be exercised unless the owner and occupier of the land affected have been given 10 working days' notice in writing of—

    • (a) How and when entry is to be made; and

    • (b) The specific powers intended to be exercised; and

    • (c) A statement of the owner's or occupier's rights under subsection (4) of this section; and

    • (d) A statement that the owner or occupier may be entitled to compensation under this Act.

    (3) Any person exercising any power under subsection (1) of this section shall have with him, and shall produce if required to do so, evidence of—

    • (a) His authority; and

    • (b) His identity.

    (4) The owner or occupier may, within 10 working days after receiving the notice and after giving notice to the Minister or local authority, as the case may be, of his intention to do so, object to the District Court nearest to the land concerned, and the Court may summon the Minister or local authority, or his or its representative, to appear before the Court at a time and place named in the summons.

    (5) If it appears to the Court that the proposed survey or investigation is unreasonable or unnecessary the Court may—

    • (a) Order that the survey or investigation shall not be undertaken, or shall not be undertaken in the manner proposed; or

    • (b) Direct that the survey or investigation be undertaken in such manner and subject to such limitations and restrictions as the Court thinks fit—

    and all persons concerned shall be bound by any such order.

    Compare: 1928 No 21 s 107

    Subsection (2)(d) was substituted, as from 1 April 1988, by section 29 Public Works Amendment Act 1988 (1988 No 43).

111A Powers of entry for survey and investigation purposes other than by Minister or local authority
  • (1) In this section, developer means—

    • (a) [Repealed]

    • (ba) A network utility operator within the meaning of section 166 of the Resource Management Act 1991 which has approval as a requiring authority under section 167 of that Act; or

    (2) Where a developer wishes to undertake a survey or other investigation on any land for the purpose of gathering information necessary for any application for any right, designation, consent, or permit, or for the preparation of any report, required for any proposed development, the developer may, upon giving the owner and occupier of the land not less than 10 working days' notice of its intention to do so, apply to the District Court for an order under this section.

    (3) On being satisfied that the proposed survey or investigation is necessary for the purposes of the proposed development, that the proposed development may properly be undertaken by the developer, and that the developer has taken all reasonable steps to negotiate an agreement for entry, the Court may make an order authorising the developer to:

    • (a) Enter and re-enter the land at reasonable times, with or without such assistants, aircraft, boats, vehicles, appliances, machinery, and equipment as are reasonably necessary for making any kind of survey or investigation:

    • (b) Dig and bore into the land and remove samples of it.

    (4) Every order made under this section shall specify—

    • (a) How and when entry is to be made; and

    • (b) The specific powers intended to be exercised; and

    • (c) Such other conditions as the Court thinks fit to impose.

    (5) Before exercising any powers authorised by an order made under this section, the developer shall serve the order on the owner and occupier of the land to which the order relates.

    (6) Every officer, employee, or agent of a developer acting in pursuance of an order made under this section shall have with him or her and shall produce on initial entry and if required to do so, evidence of his or her authority and identity.

    (7) The developer shall fully compensate every person having any right, title, estate, or interest in any land or property injuriously affected by the exercise of any of the powers authorised by an order made under this section for all loss, injury, or damage suffered by that person.

    (8) In default of agreement between the parties, claims for compensation under this section shall be made and determined within the time and in the manner provided by Part 5 of this Act, and the provisions of that Part shall, as far as they are applicable and with the necessary modifications, apply with respect to claims under this section.

    Section 111A was inserted, as from 1 January 1988, by section 2 Public Works Amendment Act (No 3) 1987 (1987 No 110).

    Subsection (1)(a) was repealed, as from 1 April 1993, by section 173(2) Electricity Act 1992 (1992 No 122).

    Subsection (1)(b) was substituted, as from 20 December 2001, by section 158 Telecommunications Act 2001 (2001 No 103).

    Subsection (1)(ba) was inserted, as from 1 October 1991, by section 362 Resource Management Act 1991 (1991 No 69).

    Subsection (2) was amended as from 1 October 1991, by section 362 Resource Management Act 1991 (1991 No 69) by inserting the word designation,.

112 Offence to destroy survey marks
  • (1) Every person who, without lawful authority or excuse, wilfully destroys, mutilates, defaces, takes away, or alters the position of any trigonometrical station, survey peg, mark, block, post, pole, or temporary building fixed or set up by any person under the authority of section 110 or section 111 of this Act commits an offence against this Act.

    (2) Every person who wilfully obstructs any authorised person exercising any powers conferred on him by section 110 or section 111 of this Act, or his assistants, in carrying out any such survey or investigation commits an offence against this Act.

    (3) Where any person is convicted of an offence under subsection (1) of this section, the Court may, in addition to imposing any penalty, order the person so convicted to pay the cost of repairing, restoring, or reinstating any trigonometrical station, survey peg, mark, block, post, pole, or temporary building so destroyed, mutilated, defaced, taken away, or altered as to position.

    Compare: 1928 No 21 s 108

Part 8
Legalisation, stopping, and exchanging of roads

113 Interpretation
  • In this Part of this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,—

    Minister means the Minister of Lands

    Road includes an access way or service lane.

    This section was substituted, as from 1 April 1988, by section 30 Public Works Amendment Act 1988 (1988 No 43).

114 Declaring land to be road
  • (1) Subject to subsection (2) of this section, the Minister may, by notice in the Gazette, declare any land, whether owned by the Crown or not, to be road.

    (2) Land shall not be declared to be road without the written consent of—

    • (a) The lessee or licensee, if the land is owned by the Crown and held under lease or licence:

    • (b) The body or persons in whom the land or its control is vested, and the lessee or licensee (if any), if the land is a reserve or an endowment or is held in trust. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Act or rule of law, the body or persons in whom any land or its control is so vested shall have authority to give any consent that may be required for the purposes of this section:

    • (c) The owner or Minister in charge of the Department of State that administers the land, if the land is not of a class referred to in paragraph (a) or paragraph (b) of this subsection:

    • (d) The Minister of Railways, if the land is held for a railway:

    • (e) The Minister of Conservation if the land is a public reserve, part of a public reserve, a conservation area within the meaning of the Conservation Act 1987, or is managed by the Department of Conservation under section 61 or section 62 of that Act:

    • (f) [Repealed]

    • (g) the New Zealand Transport Agency, in the case of a State highway or proposed State highway:

    • (h) The territorial authority in whose district the land is situated, in the case of a road or proposed road, as defined in section 315 of the Local Government Act 1974:

    (3) On the date of the publication in the Gazette of a notice issued under subsection (1) of this section, or on such later date as may be specified in that notice as the date on which it shall take effect, all land to which the notice relates shall—

    • (a) Vest in the territorial authority named in that behalf in the notice; or

    Compare: 1948 No 39 s 29(1), (2)

    Subsection (2)(e) was substituted, as from 1 April 1988, and paragraph (f) repealed, as from 1 April 1988, by section 31 Public Works Amendment Act 1988 (1988 No 43).

    Section 114(2)(g): amended, on 1 August 2008, by section 50(1) of the Land Transport Management Amendment Act 2008 (2008 No 47).

    Subsection (2)(g) was amended, as from 1 October 1989, by section 116(4) Transit New Zealand Act 1989 (1989 No 75) by substituting the words Transit New Zealand for the words the National Roads Board.

115 Certificate of consent may be registered
  • (1) Where it is proposed that land shall be declared to be road pursuant to section 114 of this Act, and any consents required under subsection (2) of that section have been given in writing, the Minister or local authority may forward a certificate in accordance with this section to the District Land Registrar who shall, without fee, register it against the title to all land affected.

    (2) Every certificate under this section shall set out—

    • (a) The description of the land affected by the certificate and (unless the whole of the land comprised in a certificate of title or a surveyed lot is to be affected) the description of the portion to be declared to be road by reference to a plan approved by the Chief Surveyor:

    • (b) The name of each person who has given his written consent to the declaring of the land to be road:

    • (c) The total area of severed land and closed road that is to be vested in the registered proprietor in exchange or the fact that no such land is to be vested, as the case may require:

    • (d) The place where, and the hours during which, the plans and consents (or copies of them) may be inspected, and a reference by which they may be identified.

    (3) The validity of a certificate under this section shall not be affected by any misdescription in it of the land if sufficient information appears on the face of the certificate for the District Land Registrar to identify the land intended to be affected by it.

    (4) Where, after the registration of such a certificate, any person registers an interest in any land affected by it, the consent of that person shall not be required to the Minister making a declaration under section 114(1) of this Act.

    (5) If, before the giving of any notice under section 114 of this Act, any mortgage or charge is registered against the land after the registration of the certificate, and the registered proprietor and the mortgagee or chargeholder stipulate in writing that the land or closed road being vested in the registered proprietor in exchange for the land being declared to be road is to be subject to such new mortgage or charge, the original consents shall be deemed to be varied accordingly.

    (6) If, after such a certificate is registered, a memorandum of transfer of the fee simple of the land affected by the certificate is registered, any consent that is given on the condition that land or closed road shall be vested in the registered proprietor as at the date of the certificate shall be deemed to be given on the condition that such land or closed road shall be vested in the registered proprietor as at the date of the notice declaring the land to be road.

    (7) Every person who applies at the place and within the hours specified in a certificate under this section for permission to inspect the copy of the consent shall be shown the copy and any plan referred to in it, and shall if he so requests be advised of the extent to which effect has been given to the consents obtained.

    (8) Where the Minister or local authority is satisfied—

    • (a) That any land against which a certificate under this section is registered is not affected or is no longer affected by the proposal to which the certificate refers; or

    • (b) In any other case, as soon as the consents have been acted upon so far as they affect the title or titles against which the certificate is registered—

    the Minister or territorial authority may notify the District Land Registrar to that effect and the Registrar shall, without fee, note the discharge against the title to the land.

    (9) Every certificate or notice of discharge under this section shall be signed by the Minister or by some person authorised by the Minister in that behalf or, in the case of a territorial authority, shall be signed by the chief executive.

    Subsection (9) was amended, as from 1 July 2003, by section 262 Local Government Act 2002 (2002 No 84) by substituting the words chief executive for the words principal administrative officer. See sections 273 to 314 of that Act as to the savings and transitional provisions.

116 Stopping roads
  • (1) Subject to subsection (2) of this section, the Minister may, by notice in the Gazette, declare any road or part of a road to be stopped.

    (2) A declaration shall not be made under subsection (1) of this section unless—

    • (a) At least 10 working days' prior notice has been given to every territorial authority whose district adjoins the road or part of the road that is the subject of the declaration; and

    • (b) Either—

      • (i) Adequate road access to land adjoining the road is left or provided; or

      • (ii) The owners of the land adjoining the road or part of the road consent in writing to the stopping; and

    • (c) If the road or part of the road proposed to be stopped is a State highway, the written consent of the New Zealand Transport Agency to the closing of the road or part of the road has been obtained; and

    • (d) If the road or part of a road is under the control of a regional council or a territorial authority, the written consent of that council or authority has been obtained; and

    • (e) [Repealed]

    Compare: 1928 No 21 s 147(1); 1948 No 39 s 29(3), (3A); 1972 No 132 s 8(1)

    Section 116(2)(c): amended, on 1 August 2008, by section 50(1) of the Land Transport Management Amendment Act 2008 (2008 No 47).

    Subsection (2)(c) was amended, as from 1 October 1989, by section 116(4) Transit New Zealand Act 1989 (1989 No 75) by substituting the words Transit New Zealand Act for the words the National Roads Board.

    Subsection (2)(d) was amended, as from 1 July 2003, by section 262 Local Government Act 2002 (2002 No 84) by substituting the words regional council for the words regional or united council. See sections 273 to 314 of that Act as to the savings and transitional provisions.

    Subsection (2)(e) was repealed, as from 1 April 1988, by section 32 Public Works Amendment Act 1988 (1988 No 43).

117 Dealing with stopped roads
  • (1) Notwithstanding anything in section 40 of this Act, if a road as defined in section 315 of the Local Government Act 1974 has been stopped under this Act, the land comprising the stopped road may be dealt with by the territorial authority in the same manner and in all respects as if the road had been stopped pursuant to the Local Government Act 1974.

    (2) The land comprising any Government road or State highway or part thereof that has been stopped may under this Act be disposed of or dealt with as land no longer required for a public work.

    (3) In the case of any stopped road that was, immediately before its stopping, a State highway, Government road, or part thereof, or if in the case of any other stopped road the territorial authority so consents, the land comprising the stopped road—

    • (a) May, by the notice declaring the road to be stopped, or by a subsequent notice by the Minister, be vested or otherwise disposed of in exchange for any land required for any other road; or

    • (b) If not required for the purpose of exchange, may be dealt with as Crown land under the Land Act 1948 or, if the Minister in the case of stopped Government road or State highway or the territorial authority in the case of any other stopped road certifies that he or it considers it equitable to do so, may be vested in or otherwise disposed of to the owner of any adjoining land.

    (4) If the land to be vested pursuant to subsection (3) of this section adjoins land that is settled as a joint family home under the Joint Family Homes Act 1964, and the land to be so vested is intended to be included in the land so settled, it may be vested in the settlor or settlors of the joint family home.

    (5) Before any land is so vested or disposed of, the Chief Surveyor shall allocate a new description to the land comprising the stopped road, and shall forward to the District Land Registrar a copy of that description, and the Registrar shall amend his records accordingly.

    (6) All land disposed of under this section by way of lease or licence in exchange for land held under lease or licence from the Crown shall be deemed to be incorporated in that lease or licence from the Crown, and shall, subject to any consequential adjustment of rent, be held on the same tenure and upon the same terms and conditions, and be subject to the same rights, titles, interests, and encumbrances, as the other land comprised in that lease or licence.

    (7) Notwithstanding anything in subsections (1), (2), and (3) of this section, if the land comprising any stopped road or any part of that land intersects or is adjacent to any reserve, endowment, or land held for a public work, the Minister may, by the notice declaring the road to be stopped or by a subsequent notice, declare that land or part to be added to the reserve, endowment, or land held for a public work, as the case may be; and thereupon the land shall vest in the owner of the land to which it is added and be subject to the same reservations and trusts as the land to which it is added.

    (8) If any reserve or endowment is vested in the Crown or, not being so vested, is lawfully administered by the Commissioner of Crown Lands appointed under section 12A of the Survey Act 1986, any land added to it under subsection (7) of this section, or any part of land so added, may be incorporated in any lease or licence of adjacent land within the reserve or endowment.

    (9) Any land incorporated in a lease or licence under subsection (6) of this section shall, subject to any consequential adjustment of rent, be held on the same tenure and on the same terms and conditions, and be subject to the same rights, titles, interests, and encumbrances, as the other land comprised in that lease or licence.

    Compare: 1928 No 21 s 149; 1948 No 39 s 29(3B)-(3F), (4), (5)

    Subsection (8) was amended, as from 1 April 1987, by section 65(1) Conservation Act 1987 (1987 No 65) by substituting the words Director-General of Lands for the words Land and Settlement Board.

    The reference to the Commissioner of Crown Lands appointed under section 12A of the Survey Act 1986 replaced, as from 1 February 1990, the reference to the Director-General of Lands pursuant to section 9(2) Survey Amendment Act (No 2) 1989 (1989 No 139).

118 Application of other Acts to stopped roads
  • (1) Notwithstanding section 117 of this Act, where any road or any portion of a road along the mark of mean high water springs of the sea, or along the bank of any river, or the margin of any lake (as the case may be) is stopped under section 116 of this Act—

    • (a) Section 345(3) of the Local Government Act 1974 (relating to esplanade reserves) shall apply to the land comprising the road or portion of the road so stopped if that land was formerly a road vested in a local authority (including a state highway vested in a local authority):