Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

Local Government Act 2002

Regulatory, enforcement, and coercive powers of local authorities - Powers in relation to private land - Compulsory acquisition of land

189: Power to acquire land

You could also call this:

“Councils can buy or take land for public projects”

You can buy or take land for your local council if it’s needed for a public project. This applies to land inside or outside your area. The land must be for a project that your council could do before 1 July 2003.

If you take or buy land using the Public Works Act 1981, it belongs to your local council. The land must be used for the reason it was bought. The Public Works Act 1981 also says how you can change what the land is used for or sell it.

This text is automatically generated. It might be out of date or be missing some parts. Find out more about how we do this.

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM173483.

Topics:
Government and voting > Local councils
Housing and property > Land use
Previous

188: Liability for payments in respect of private land, or

“How councils can make you pay for work on your land”

Next

190: Compensation payable by local authority for land taken or injuriously affected, or

“Local council must pay you if they take or harm your land”

Part 8 Regulatory, enforcement, and coercive powers of local authorities
Powers in relation to private land: Compulsory acquisition of land

189Power to acquire land

  1. A local authority may purchase, or take in the manner provided in the Public Works Act 1981, any land or interest in land, whether within or outside its district, that may be necessary or convenient for the purposes of, or in connection with, any public work that the local authority was empowered to undertake, construct, or provide immediately before 1 July 2003.

  2. All land taken, purchased, or acquired under the Public Works Act 1981 is vested in the local authority for the purpose for which it was acquired and is subject to the provisions of that Act as to a change of the purpose or its disposal.

Compare