Story: Law

Certificates of title

Certificates of title

Under the Land Transfer Act 1870 New Zealand adopted the Torrens system of formally registering land title, which was administered first by the Department of Lands and Survey, and later by Land Information New Zealand (LINZ). Certificates such as these, with a unique title number, recorded the names of owners and the history of property transactions. The system was considered to be a great improvement on the English system of title deeds.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, Dominion Post Collection (PAColl-7327)
Reference: EP/1981/2260/14

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Geoffrey Palmer, 'Law - Legal innovation', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/37018/certificates-of-title (accessed 25 April 2024)

Story by Geoffrey Palmer, published 20 Jun 2012, updated 1 Oct 2016