Part 6Enforcement and other matters
Miscellaneous: Vesting of reclaimed land and unlawful reclamation
328Vesting of reclaimed land
Any person may apply to the Minister for Land Information for any right, title, or interest in any land to be vested in that person—
- which forms part of a riverbed or lakebed which is land of the Crown; and
- which has been reclaimed or is proposed to be reclaimed.
The Minister for Land Information may, if they think fit, by notice in the Gazette, vest in the applicant any right, title, or interest in any area of reclaimed land that forms part of a riverbed or lakebed that is not within the coastal marine area and which is land of the Crown after—
- determining an appropriate price (if any) to be paid by the applicant in respect thereof; and
- ensuring that the regional council has issued a certificate under clause 72 of Schedule 7 of the Planning Act 2025.
Every Gazette notice published under subsection (2)—
- must state the name of the person or local authority in whom or which the right, title, or interest is vested, and accurately describe the position and extent of the reclaimed land; and
- must describe the right, title, or interest vested; and
- must refer to any encumbrances or restrictions imposed on the applicant's right, title, or interest in the land; and
- must be sent by the relevant Minister to the Registrar-General of Land, with a request that a record of title be issued accordingly; and
- must be registered, without fee, by the Registrar-General of Land as soon as practicable after receipt from the Minister.
The Registrar-General of Land must, in accordance with a request made under subsection (3)(c), issue an appropriate record of title in respect of the right, title, or interest in the land vested by the Gazette notice.
For the purposes of this section, references to land that forms part of a riverbed or lakebed include land which was part of that bed before it was reclaimed.