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Satellite images of the impact of the Kaikoura earthquake show the level of devastation and will help speed up the recovery, Land Information Minister Louise Upston says.

The imagery, taken from planes, gives a clear picture of dramatic changes to the coastline following the initial quakes and aftershocks. The project was a joint effort between Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) and NZTA, and will support the reconstruction work on the coastal rail and road route announced by Minister Bridges today.

Three place names in North Canterbury containing the word ‘nigger’ will be changed to reflect the offence caused by that word, Land Information Minister Louise Upston says.

Nigger Stream, near Arthur’s Pass, will now officially be named Pūkio Stream after a native grass (Carex Secta) found in the area.

Niggerhead, which is above Lake Sumner, will be called Tawhai Hill after a species of native Beech Tree found in the South Island.

Minister for Land Information Louise Upston today announced the appointment of Victoria Murdoch and re-appointment of Evan Gamby to the Valuers Registration Board – the authority that oversees the performance of New Zealand’s land valuers.

“Ms Murdoch is Christchurch-based and has worked mainly in urban valuation for nearly 20 years. She’s also the third woman to be appointed to the Board since its creation in 1948,” says Ms Upston.

The Board has also re-appointed long-serving member, Evan Gamby, for the next three years.

The Minister for Land Information Louise Upston says advisors to overseas investors are helping to make sure New Zealand attracts and secures quality investments.

“During the last two weeks I have enjoyed hosting a series of overseas investment workshops attended by more than 150 lawyers, advisors and others who work with, or have an interest in, people investing in New Zealand.

Appointments to the Cadastral Surveyor Licensing Board, New Zealand’s authority for setting competency standards for land title surveyors, will see its membership refreshed, including a new Chair, Land Information Minister Louise Upston said.

“It’s great to see that the Board has elected a woman as Chair for the first time. Vicky Nalder, an experienced surveyor and member of the Board for six years has been promoted to the position,” Ms Upston says.

A refreshed membership of the New Zealand Geographic Board will ensure that New Zealand’s process for deciding official place names continues to reflect the interests of Kiwis, Land Information Minister Louise Upston says.

The newcomers are Paulette Tamati-Elliffe, nominated by Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, and former South Wairarapa District Council Mayor, Adrienne Staples, nominated by Local Government New Zealand.

Latest figures released by Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) again show overseas tax resident buyers are involved in just three percent of New Zealand property transfers, Land Information Minister Louise Upston says.

LINZ released its quarterly report on tax residency and property transfers covering July to September 2016 today which shows transfers involving overseas tax residents are at similar levels to previous quarters on record this year.

The effort to stop invasive wilding conifers from choking the Kaimanawa ranges has received a major funding boost, Land Information Minister Louise Upston and Conservation Minister Maggie Barry have announced.

“The Government is investing an additional $538,000 in control work in the Kaimanawa ranges this year, as part of the $16m it is investing nationally to control wilding conifers over the next four years,” Ms Upston says. 

Land Information Minister Louise Upston wants paper map users to have their say on proposed changes to the way Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) prints and charges for its maps.

“The trusty paper topographic or topo map has long had a place in Kiwi culture, but increasingly people are using digital versions from LINZ’s website,” says Ms Upston.

“While paper maps are still an essential tool for navigation – after all they don’t run out of batteries – the greater use of digital maps means there has been a reduction in demand.

Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) and its partners have released a new plan to tackle the invasive weed hornwort at Lake Karapiro, says Land Information Minister Louise Upston.

“Lake Karapiro is a beautiful reservoir and one of the country’s most impressive venues for water sport, including rowing and Waka Ama” says Ms Upston.

“There’s a need for more sustained, targeted control of hornwort given the growing list of events scheduled to take place, including the World Masters Games in 2017.

New mapping of parts of the Marlborough Sounds, Tāmaki Strait, Auckland and Kawau Bay seabeds will ensure maritime safety and help to improve marine habitat management, says Land Information Minister Louise Upston.

Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) in partnership with Marlborough District Council has engaged the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research to survey Queen Charlotte Sound (Tōtaranui) and the Tory Channel (Kura Te Au) in the Marlborough Sounds with state-of-the-art sonar technology.

Minister for Land Information Louise Upston today announced the approval of Shanghai Maling’s application to purchase a 50 per cent interest in Silver Fern Farms.

Minister for Land Information Louise Upston, and Associate Minister for Finance Paula Bennett, the decision-making Ministers, are satisfied that the purchase would create substantial and identifiable benefit for New Zealand.

Four private sector techies have joined Wellington City Council and Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) as part of a new Open Data Fellowship – providing a fresh perspective on how to make open government data even more useful, says Land Information Minister Louise Upston.

“The Fellowships mark the beginning of a new way of working between government and private enterprise that’ll see more innovation using government data to solve local issues,” says Ms Upston. 

Land Information Minister Louise Upston is calling on Kiwis to help strengthen government policy for making government data more freely available to the public.

“We want to hear your views on whether New Zealand should adopt the International Open Data Charter, a set of global principles for making government data available to the public,” says Ms Upston.

Launched in September 2015, the Charter has been adopted by 17 countries world-wide.

Legislation just passed will give surveyors and property owners certainty in the location of boundaries for earthquake-affected properties in Canterbury, says Land Information Minister Louise Upston.

“The Canterbury Property Boundaries and Related Matters Act takes a pragmatic view by saying boundaries have moved with the land,” says Ms Upston. 

“In most instances, this means that boundaries will be where property owners expect them to be, as marked by features like fences.

Land Information Minister Louise Upston is encouraging data whizzes throughout New Zealand to apply for two innovative Open Data Fellowships with Land Information New Zealand and the Wellington City Council.

“If you’re a developer or data scientist who wants to make a difference in your community, then don’t let this unique opportunity pass you by,” she said.

Newly released figures again show overseas tax resident buyers and sellers are behind three percent of New Zealand property transfers, Land Information Minister Louise Upston says.

Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) has released its latest report on tax residency and property transfers covering April to June 2016.

New guidelines will let kiwi techies use government software to help build other innovative software, says Land Information Minister Louise Upston.

Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) has released guidelines to help government agencies apply open source licences to their software.

“Making government data freely available has resulted in businesses using it to develop precision agricultural tools and create apps for trampers. By taking the same approach to software, it too can be turned into new products for people to use,” says Ms Upston. 

Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) is improving access to property information following a survey ranking it among the most in-demand types of government data, says Land Information Minister Louise Upston.

The findings were included in the results of a LINZ survey published today, which asked New Zealanders about the top 10 datasets they would most like to be able to access.

“With more than 400 survey responses, this high participation confirms the importance of LINZ’s work in encouraging government agencies to release their data,” says Ms Upston.

New fees that take effect on Monday will mean the Overseas Investment Office can hire more staff and further streamline its internal processes, says Land Information Minister Hon Louise Upston.

The Government has approved changes which will see OIO fees restructured and increased by between 8.7 and 166 per cent for different application fee types.

Ms Upston says recent internal changes in the OIO have driven operational improvements and the Government wants to see further improvement.

Scientists have released new data that will help planners identify the risks posed by floods and sea level rise, says Land Information Minister Louise Upston.

Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) has completed a five year project to improve New Zealand’s Vertical Datum – a reference for measuring the height of the land and its features.

Taxpayers will reap the benefits of new arrangements for managing properties earmarked for future Treaty settlements.

The Office of Treaty Settlements (OTS) Landbank is made up of about 950 properties, and these will be managed by Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) from 1 July 2016.

Land Information Minister Louise Upston said LINZ are expert in dealing with Crown property, and have the people, systems and processes needed to make sure the Landbank properties continue to be well looked after for iwi.”

Initial data generated from the Government’s property tax measures in Budget 2015 indicates overseas tax resident buyers are behind 2-3 per cent of New Zealand property transfers, Land Information Minister Louise Upston says.

Over the six months to 31 March, 97,800 property transfers of all types were registered with LINZ. Of these:

Changes to the overseas investment regime mean the Overseas Investment Office (OIO) will be able to assess applications faster and shore up investor certainty, Ministers Bill English and Louise Upston say.

The changes, which are the result of a review that has been underway since last year, are expected to take place in mid-2016 and will see OIO fees restructured and increased by between 8.7 and 166 per cent for different application fee types.