Cyber-planning for the future puts New Zealanders in front

By RUSS BALLARD*

On May 31 the last paper-based certificate of title was issued from Land Information New Zealand's Auckland office.

This also marked the completion of the nationwide introduction of the first stage of Landonline.

For the first time, New Zealand has an electronic survey and title system that underpins the New Zealand economy.

This has been a huge and unique undertaking. No other country in the world has been able to integrate title and survey information.

And it doesn't end here. When the next stage of Landonline is piloted this year, New Zealand will lead the world by being able to submit and update surveys and routine land transactions electronically.

Initiated by Land Information New Zealand, Landonline is a challenging information technology project that converted millions of title records, title instruments, plans, parcels and geodetic survey marks into an electronic format.

It means Linz staff and customers - surveyors, conveyancers, real estate agents, valuers and search agents - are radically changing the way they work, moving from a traditional paper-based system.

Customers use Landonline Stage One to search Linz records from their own PCs over the internet.

Linz staff can electronically process land transactions submitted on paper.

Landonline Stage One started in Dunedin in April 2000, progressing through the country as more than seven million land records were converted.

More than 3000 customers already use Landonline. This is more than the number required for the system to be judged a success, and indicates that the benefits forecast for the project will be achieved.

Linz is now recognised worldwide as a leader in the automation of title and survey business functions, and has had several visits from overseas agencies.

Some Australian agencies are seeking to buy parts of Landonline that are seen as world-leading developments.

Linz recognises it has not all been plain sailing. Seven Linz offices have closed.

But while some communities are adjusting to the loss of their local office, they and people in areas that have never had a Linz office now have access not only to records from their own region, but records nationwide.

Landline users need a licence. The system has been designed to meet the needs of those professionals who are required to use its services to carry out their business.

The Government last year investigated ways of giving greater access to the public, but as less than three per cent of searches are made by the public, the extra cost could not be justified.

The Government also recognised that the public has other ways of getting information, including through a search agent or a Linz office, by using the Landonline terminals at Linz offices or the Skylight internet ordering service, www.linz.govt.nz.

Several companies are also looking at using their purchase of bulk data from Landonline to provide public property information services.

Considerable consultation has been done with individuals and groups on what they require from the system.

The four representatives from the survey and legal professions working on the project have been responsible for many important enhancements to the system, including the decision to move to a new method of delivery (Citrix) that provides a faster service than originally offered.

Landonline will continue to develop and improve.

As Landonline Stage Two takes effect it will bring quicker turnaround times for approving transactions.

It will also automate the processing of routine land transactions, such as the sale of a private home.

Eventually it will take less than an hour to complete a routine transaction.

Linz will also be investigating the feasibility of digital lodgement for a wider range of title transactions, greater automated processing of survey transactions and integrating the Landonline database with topographic and hydrographic databases.

* Russ Ballard is chief executive of Land Information New Zealand.