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— here is a detailed map of the area from the NZTA (click for the big version). This looks west with Fairway Oaks at the top left. The accompanying e-mail is below.  There don’t seem to be any immediate plans to do anything with the land and landscaping other than maintain it, which is good.

Hi Geoffrey and Eva,

I can confirm that if NZTA identify any land that is surplus to NZTA requirements, NZTA have to follow the Public Works Act 1981 disposal process as stated below.

NZTA carries out required maintenance on land it owns until disposal/sale of the land.  Therefore, in terms of your query regarding whether NZTA has any “plans for the land other than to leave it the way it is now”, the answer would be, aside from maintenance, no.  The intention is for NZTA to dispose of any surplus land as soon as practicably possible.

Key Steps for Disposal of Surplus NZTA Land

Disposal of The Transport Agency’s surplus land is directed by the Public Works Act 1981.  The Act defines a detailed process and timeframes once land is declared surplus.  For details please refer to Sections 40 – 42 of the Act.

The following provides an overview of the process.

1.       Land identified by the Transport Agency as surplus to NZTA requirements

2.       Other Crown Agencies or Local Authority confirm any requirement they have for a Public Work to NZTA

3.       If not required by a Crown Agency for:

a.       roading purposes;

b.      any other public work; or

c.       an exchange, then

4.       Property is to be cleared through DOC & Heritage NZPT (confirmation of any requirements); if/when cleared

5.       LINZ decision (section 40 PWA) is required as to whether the property is offered back to the former owner,  their successor/s, or an adjoining owner

6.       If no offer back or preferential offer is required (cleared section 40 PWA), then the surplus land if offered to Iwi via:

a.       Maori Protection Mechanism; or

b.      Right of First Refusal

(depending on whether a Treaty Settlement has been signed)

7.       If not taken up or acquired by Iwi, then the property is offered for sale on the open market by public tender (for a minimum of 4 weeks), private treaty, or by public application.

NB: This process can take between 1 to 3 years.

Thanks,

Liz Little — Senior Property Manager, NZ Transport Agency Property Disposals