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Land Information Minister Michael Woodhouse today announced the reappointment of Phillip Curnow and Ken Taylor to the Valuers Registration Board (VRB) for a further three-year term.

The VRB is an independent statutory body – administered by Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) – that oversees the registration of valuers and investigates complaints.

“Both Mr Curnow and Mr Taylor were first appointed to the VRB in 2007 and reappointed in 2011,” Mr Woodhouse says.

Land Information Minister Michael Woodhouse today released the 2014 Report on Agency Adoption of the Declaration on Open and Transparent Government.

The Declaration requires public sector agencies to release their high value public data for reuse by third parties.

“The Report shows that government agencies are increasingly releasing public non-personal data in open formats for reuse,” Mr Woodhouse says.

Proposed changes to the regulation scheme for valuers will better position it to meet current demands, Land Information Minister Michael Woodhouse said today.

The proposals are detailed in the ‘Review of the Occupational Regulation of Valuers’ discussion document released today by Land Information New Zealand (LINZ).

“The current occupational regulation scheme for valuers was established by the Valuers Act 1948, making it one of the oldest schemes in the country,” Mr Woodhouse says.

Budget 2014 provides $300,000 to accelerate the Open Government Data and Information Programme over the next two years, Land Information Minister Michael Woodhouse says.

The programme, which is led by Land Information New Zealand (LINZ), is Action 13 of the government’s ICT Strategy and Action Plan.

“The funding will see LINZ accelerate work with public-sector agencies to focus their efforts on supplying and releasing public data that people want to reuse,’’ Mr Woodhouse says.

Land Information Minister Maurice Williamson today announced New Zealand’s most current publicly owned aerial imagery, covering 95 per cent of the country, is now available online.

Land Information New Zealand has been working with other agencies to make imagery available under an open licence, and to ensure it is accessible through the LINZ Data Service.

“Releasing publicly held aerial imagery for reuse has the potential to create cost savings for the public sector and generate economic benefits for the private sector.

Efforts to coordinate central and local government procurement of aerial imagery will ensure better value for money and open access to the data, Land Information Minister Maurice Williamson says.

Aerial imagery is captured from airborne sensors and cameras, and its uses include land management and disaster recovery planning.

“Land Information New Zealand is working with local authorities and government agencies to establish a national programme for coordinating public sector imagery purchases.

Land Information Minister Maurice Williamson today hailed the Marine Mate smartphone application as a great example of central and local government collaborating to make public data more accessible.

Marine Mate provides a wide range of vital boating information, including tide times, boat ramp locations and boating bylaws, that matches its user’s location.

“Developed by Waikato Regional Council with data from Land Information New Zealand and other agencies, it has now achieved more than 14,000 downloads since its launch late last year.

Land Information Minister Maurice Williamson says 3D models of buildings past, present and planned are being made available from today to help people visualise how the Christchurch central city will look.

As part of the Canterbury spatial data infrastructure programme, led by Land Information New Zealand, a set of 3D models of buildings pre-earthquake have been released under an open license, making them available to anyone.

“The ability to better visualise changes will play a key role in engagement, consultation, enhanced planning decisions and efficiency.

Land Information Minister Maurice Williamson and Pacific Island Affairs Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga have welcomed the completion of electronic navigational charts for the south-west Pacific.

The development of these charts by Land Information New Zealand for Niue Tonga, Samoa, Cook Islands and Tokelau is part of an initiative funded by the New Zealand Aid Programme to improve maritime safety in the region.

Land Information Minister Maurice Williamson says claims made by New Zealand First leader Winston Peters today that Huka Lodge, in Taupo, has been sold to Chinese interests are not true.

“The Overseas Investment Office has spoken to Huka Lodge director and shareholder David McGregor, and he has confirmed no sale has been made or is being considered.

Huka Lodge was last sold in 2003, following Overseas Investment Commission approval, when a Labour Government was in power
 

The next phase of work to update and enhance the New Zealand Vertical Datum 2009 is set to begin tomorrow, Land Information Minister Maurice Williamson says.

The NZVD2009 provides a consistent reference point for measuring heights in New Zealand, its offshore islands and the continental shelf. A project to collect aerial gravity data to improve accuracy began last year.

Flights to collect South Island aerial gravity data are due to begin from Timaru tomorrow.

Land Information Minister Maurice Williamson today welcomed the release of Cadastre 2034 strategy by the Surveyor-General.

The cadastre is the official record of land boundaries.  It includes official survey plans, information about boundary marks, survey measurements, and other supporting information provided by surveyors.  

The Crown Land Centre of Expertise has now signed a memorandum of understanding with seven public sector agencies, Land Information Minister Maurice Williamson says.

The centre was established within Land Information New Zealand as part of the Government’s drive for agencies to assume leadership roles in areas in which they have expertise.

It uses LINZ’s expertise and innovation to support and advise a growing number of Crown agencies on the management and, where required, the disposal of surplus Crown land.