The Registrar-General of Land:
- develops standards and sets an assurance programme for the land rights registration system
- provides technical policy advice on land registration
- administers claims and reviews under the Land Transfer Act 2017.
New Zealand’s land title registration system is governed by the Land Transfer Act 2017 and is based on what is commonly called the Torrens system. The registration system, subject to a few exceptions, provides conclusive evidence of land ownership. The title of a registered owner is backed up by a government guarantee.
Toitū Te Whenua processes the operational aspects of the land title system, including registration of transfers, mortgages and other land title matters.