Land Act to be overhauled

Press, 22 October 1981, Page 17

Land Act to be overhauled

Parliamentary reporter

The Government, has begun a review of the 33-year-old Land Act. which provides the basis for the activities of the Lands and Survey Department and governs the administration of . Crown land.

Since the act was passed attitudes, practices, and New Zealand society had changed considerably, said the Minister of 'Lands (Mr V. S. Young). What had been appropriate in 1948 might no longer apply.

He said he was. anxious that the revised legislation should have adequate public input, before it. was. finally presented to Parliament, and he would welcome any public submissions on amending the act.

The act was broken into 13 parts dealing with matters such as general administration, surveys, leases, licences and reserves. It also governed the Land Settlement Board. Some of the issues to be looked at in lhe review were land district boundaries, high-country administration, land rehabilitation, clarifying the definition of Crown Land,

and public participation in making decisions, Mr Young said.

Whether the special clauses for discharged servicemen were still necessary would be looked at. The relationship to and conditions for lessees of Crown Lands also needed to be reviewed to ensure that they were up with the times.

He said the relationship between the Land Act and other legislation such as the Land Settlement Promotion and Land Acquisition Act and the Marginal Lands Act would be studied. The functions of these and other related acts might be served better in the new Land Act. The future of the Land Settlement Board would also be under scrutiny. The board's functions and responsibilities might be re-' tained or even reconstituted.

The new act would also have implications for other legislation and would need to be drafted carefully, Mr Young said. In achieving this the review would need to be based not only on today’s circumstances, but also have an eye to the future.