LINZ wins award for property project in Christchurch Red Zone

Toitū Te Whenua Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) won a project excellence award at the annual Survey and Spatial conference in Napier last week for its work on the Ōtākaro Avon River corridor reconfiguration project.

Following the devastating Canterbury earthquakes in 2010 and 2011, LINZ had the task of transferring approximately 5500 existing records of title, legal roads, and other miscellaneous land in the Red Zone to around 200 parcels for the Christchurch City Council.

The project was one of the largest survey and title projects in New Zealand history and would not have been possible without delivery partners The Property Group, and the survey industry. You can read more about this project at:

Transfer of Crown-owned Christchurch residential red zone complete

Survey and Spatial conference 28 – 30 August 2024

Each year surveyors and geospatial professionals come together to share experiences from the past year and refresh connections with others in the community at the Survey and Spatial conference.

This year LINZ’s Office of the Surveyor General kicked off proceedings with insights into the Modernising Landonline programme – the digital platform for surveyors and conveyancers that processes property transactions and records survey information.

The conference provides an opportunity to speak directly with surveyors and hear their feedback about LINZ’s work. This helps focus the planning and direction of our work as we decommission Legacy Landonline and move towards digitally visualised surveys.

‘Looking ahead in the heartland’ was the theme for this year’s conference which reflected on the resilience of provincial New Zealand and acknowledged the impact of Cyclone Gabrielle on Napier and the wider Hawke’s Bay last year. The conference provided a platform to discuss approaches to the challenges of climate change and disaster recovery around the country.

Attendees heard from LINZ experts about the 3D coastal mapping trial which took place earlier this year. The trial captured bathymetric LiDAR data of the nearshore zone in Southland and in the Bay of Plenty. This data will help decision-makers plan and adapt to climate change and will also be used to update nautical charts for safer navigation in New Zealand waters.

Conference attendees also received an update on how the SouthPAN programme is progressing after the site hosting satellite-based augmentation technology in Southland was switched on.

The conference delivered fascinating and varied talks about work that will advance New Zealand and benefit a range of sectors.