Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Act 2011

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

15: No ownership in road that becomes part of common marine and coastal area

You could also call this:

"Roads that become part of the common marine and coastal area are no longer owned by anyone."

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

When a road becomes part of the common marine and coastal area, you no longer own it, even if you used to. If a road in this area is stopped under the Local Government Act 1974 or the Public Works Act 1981, it becomes part of the common marine and coastal area. A certificate from the responsible Minister can be used as proof of what has happened to a road or area. This rule applies even if other rules, like section 14 or section 18, say something different. You can rely on a certificate from the Minister to know what has happened to a road. The Minister's certificate is proof unless someone can show it is wrong.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM3597234.

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

Topics:

Environment and resources > ConservationEnvironment and resources > Land useHousing and property > Land use

14: Roads located in marine and coastal area, or

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

16: Continued Crown ownership of minerals, or

"The Crown owns minerals like gold and oil under the land and sea."

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

15No ownership in road that becomes part of common marine and coastal area

When a road or a former road becomes part of the common marine and coastal area, the title of the Crown or other entity as owner of the road is divested.
If a road in the marine and coastal area is stopped under the Local Government Act 1974 or the Public Works Act 1981, the former road becomes or, as the case requires, continues to be, part of the common marine and coastal area.
A certificate signed by the responsible Minister that identifies a road or an area and states that a provision of section 14 or this section has, since a specified date, applied to the road or area is, in the absence of proof to the contrary, sufficient evidence of the matters stated in the certificate.
This section and section 14 override section 18.