Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Act 2011

Common marine and coastal area - Interests in common marine and coastal area

13: Boundary changes of marine and coastal area

You could also call this:

"How the marine and coastal area changes when land is added or removed"

Illustration for Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Act 2011

You need to know how the law affects the marine and coastal area. This law does not change other laws about accretions or erosions, except for section 11(4). If a natural event changes the land, it can become part of the marine and coastal area. If Crown or local authority land becomes part of this area, it becomes common marine and coastal area. This is because of a natural change, like erosion. If land is no longer part of the marine and coastal area, it can vest in the Crown. This means the land belongs to the Crown and is subject to the Land Act 1948. The Crown land is then governed by this law.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM3597223.

This page was last updated on 9 February 2026 — View changes

Topics:

Environment and resources > ConservationEnvironment and resources > Town planningHousing and property > Land use

12: Areas acquiring status under certain enactments may vest in Crown, or

"Some special coastal areas can become owned by the Crown."

14: Roads located in marine and coastal area, or

"Roads in the marine and coastal area: what happens to them under the law"

Part 2Common marine and coastal area
Interests in common marine and coastal area

13Boundary changes of marine and coastal area

This Act (other than section 11(4)) does not affect any enactment or the common law that governs accretions or erosions.
However, if, because of a change caused by a natural occurrence or process, any land, other than a road, that is owned by the Crown or a local authority becomes part of the marine and coastal area, then that land becomes part of the common marine and coastal area (even if that land consists of or is included in a piece of land defined by fixed boundaries).
If land has, because of a change caused by a natural occurrence or process, ceased to be part of the common marine and coastal area, and the title to that land is not determined by an enactment or the common law, then the land vests in the Crown as Crown land and is subject to the Land Act 1948.