Property titles give an accurate and up-to-date picture of legal ownership of land in New Zealand. Information on researching, purchasing and updating property titles is below.
Property title records show a property's owners, legal description and the rights and restrictions registered against the property title - for example, a mortgage, easement or covenant.
A title plan is the plan deposited by LINZ when the title was created.
Property titles do not contain information about the value of the property. Find out about property valuation in New Zealand.
Find out more about ordering land titles and plans.
In the past, the evidence of a property title was a paper document called a Certificate of Title, but since 2002 all of New Zealand's current property title records are held electronically.
Electronic property title records are called records of title. Find out more about titles under the Land Transfer Act 2017.
Other property record providers can also help you trace back titles by prior references, complete more complicated searches and help with historical research.
Land professionals, including conveyancers and lawyers, can help you update the title of your property. For example, if you have paid off your mortgage, you can have it taken off your property register (this is called a discharge). LINZ recommends you consult your lawyer to discharge a mortgage.
If you think there is an error in a title or survey record, such as a misspelt name or incorrect legal description, you can request a correction to a land record.