Many organisations outside Toitū Te Whenua hold and issue land records.
Archives New Zealand
Archives New Zealand is the official guardian of New Zealand’s public archives. You can find many historic land records including, maps, government documents, deeds and books.
You can search for digital records using the Collections search, or in person in their reading rooms.
Archives New Zealand – Collections search
Local councils or territorial authorities
City, district and regional councils hold various types of land records.
Council records are a source of references you can use to help you find records held by Toitū Te Whenua or Archives New Zealand.
Land Information Memoranda (LIM reports)
Land Information Memoranda (LIM) reports gather information the council holds about a particular property, such as:
- special land features, for example potential erosion or hazardous substances
- private and public drains
- rates payment status
- consents, certificates, notices of requisitions that affect the land or buildings
- building reports
- aerial photography
- district plans.
Permits and consents
Local councils are the bodies that issue permits and consents such as:
- resource consents – consents for activities on land such as land use, subdivision, coastal activities, water use and discharges to land or water
- building consents – consents to add structures to land, or change existing structures on the land.
Property valuations
Local councils carry out property valuations to help determine annual council rates charges. From this they issue rating valuation notices and rates demands.
For more information, contact your local council:
Māori Land Court
Most Māori land records are held by the Māori Land Court.
You can search for records through the Court’s online portal Pātaka Whenua.
Find more information on Māori land records: