Surveying Activities

What is Surveying?

Amongst many important roles, Surveyors fulfil an important role in the land title system of New Zealand.

It is likely that you will seldom engage the services of a surveyor, unlike other professional advisors whose assistance you may often obtain. The information in this section will assist you in the engagement of a surveyor.

As land professionals, registered surveyors spend four years obtaining a Bachelor of Surveying Degree or its equivalent. They ensure that land measurements are accurate and that boundaries are marked and visible. Surveyors can confidently reproduce boundary marks erased by time. Surveyors are the only professionals qualified to take accurate land measurements, and to fix precise positions. Surveyors are resource managers, and can ensure an application under the Resource Management Act is correctly presented.

You may engage a surveyor for a number of reasons, including:

• Any transaction concerning land
  
• Siting a house, garage or fence
• Developing or subdividing land
• Undertaking environmental studies
• Preparing maps
• Planning farm water supply or irrigation
• Interpreting district planning schemes
• A dispute over land boundaries occurs
• A topographical or contour survey is required
• Registering rights of ways and other easements over land
• Registering leases of land
• Expert testimony concerning land measurement is required

When you wish to engage a surveyor, it is preferable to make an appointment to see him or her in their office or on the site where you need their services. In the office the surveyor has available maps, survey plans, and the District Plan. If possible, you should bring all the information regarding your requirements.

It could include:

• A recent copy of your title
• The Government valuation
• Aerial photos
• Engineering drawings
• A sketch of your proposal