Property Acquisition, Legalisation and Disposal

We are Accredited Crown Property Agents. We provide property negotiation, acquisition, disposal and legalisation services for roading, rail, electricity, telco, gas, water and waste projects, and commercial and residential developments.

We act on behalf of the Crown, councils and commercial operators. Our expertise includes the Public Works Act 1981, Local Government Act 2002 (leasing, licensing and road stopping), Electricity Act 1992, Resource Management Act 1991 and several other land related statutes, regulations and codes of practice.

Clare Collett

Group Manager -
Land Disposal and Property Advisory

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Eastern Busway

The Eastern Busway, or AMETI (the Auckland Manukau Eastern Transport Initiative), is an Auckland Transport project. It will provide a dedicated busway and a shared-use path in the southeastern suburbs of Panmure, Pakuranga and Botany in Auckland.
The busway’s first stage, EB1 between Panmure and Pakuranga, opened in December 2022. The entire project is expected to be complete by 2027.

The second stage of the project, known as EB2, EB3 and EB4, is being delivered by the Eastern Busway Alliance, consisting of Auckland Transport, Fletcher Construction, Acciona, AECOM and Jacobs in partnership with mana whenua, Auckland Council and Waka Kotahi. Consents have been lodged for EB2, EB3R (residential) section with EB3C (commercial) section being lodged mid to late 2023.

Align has been involved in all stages of the Eastern Busway, providing property support and acquiring the land required so construction can commence on time.

Property Acquisition, Legalisation and Disposal

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Case Studies

110 kV Line Route Selection, Consenting and Easement Acquisition

Align was appointed by Waipa Networks to plan and manage the route/ site selection, property, consenting, stakeholder engagement and communication work streams to construct a 35 km 110 kV high voltage electricity transmission line between the Te Awamutu and Hangatiki substations. This included the budgeting, programming, law, governance, risk and contractor/ consultant management.

The route was optimised by breaking it down into smaller and comparable parts and fine-tuning it in response to expert advice, and landowner and affected party feedback. The work and stakeholder engagement were scheduled by combining the main work streams and reverse engineering the critical path in line with construction deadlines, regulatory timeframes and stakeholders needs and influences. Our project management was underpinned by the Agile method.

The project was completed on time and within budget. A council hearing was held at which four objectors appeared. The matter did not go to the Environment Court, which is unusual for a project of this nature and scale. A survey was completed after the project and most stakeholders indicated that Align had acted fairly and with integrity.

Auckland Light Rail Alliance

The Auckland Light Rail project is proposed to aid the future expansion of Auckland’s mass transit system with a light rail network. Light Rail will expand Auckland’s rapid transit network, which already moves thousands of people, to make Tāmaki Makaurau a better place to live now and in the future. The Auckland Light Rail team is a collaboration between Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency, Auckland Transport, Auckland Council, the Ministry of Transport and Kāinga Ora.

The initial corridor stretches from Auckland’s City Centre to Māngere. Light Rail between the City Centre and Māngere is the first spine of a proposed wider rapid transport network for Auckland, which has also been identified by the Crown and Auckland Council as an enabler of higher density and better-quality urban development, leading to stronger communities, greater vitality and attractive compact urban form. The City Centre to Māngere line will be a 24-kilometre-long rail connection comprising 18 stations. It will improve transport choices and make Tāmaki Makaurau a better place to live now and for future generations.

The Align property team is providing extensive services to Auckland Light Rail, mainly supporting the outcomes of the property programme. This work includes property due diligence, desktop research, property ownership analysis, site selection, risk assessment and property cost estimate forecasting.

Auckland Takanini Stormwater Channel Land Acquisition

The project was designed to reduce flooding in prone areas in Takanini, and to enable more homes to be built. Align undertook the Public Works Act land acquisition and stakeholder engagement to acheive this goal.

Open and meaningful dialogue took place with all stakeholders, alongside robust client reporting. This ensured an early awareness of risks and opportunities for all parties.

Several of agreements have been finalised, and negotiations with landowners to continue to enable the project construction to move forward.

Auckland Northern Corridor Improvements Land Acquisition

Align was appointed by the NZ Transport Agency to acquire land under the Public Works Act 1981 to enable the Northern Corridor Improvements project between SH18 and SH1 in Auckland. The land to be acquired included complex full and partial purchases of both commercial and residential.

For large scale roading projects we seek to act with empathy and understanding towards affected landowners. We also aim to realise any win-win opportunities for landowners, the NZTA and LINZ wherever possible. This is achieved in part by a commitment to regular and consistent communication with landowners and our clients throughout the negotiation process.

At this point in time, Align has secured 80% of the required landowner approvals on a willing-seller willing-buyer basis and it is anticipated the remaining agreements will be negotiated well before the required construction timeframe.

Mackays to Peka Peka Expressway Land Disposal

The Mackays to Peka Peka project involves an 18km four-lane expressway that delivers a key section of the Wellington Northern Corridor. This highway previously did not serve its users well, had a poor safety record, was vulnerable to closures by storms and crashes and drivers are often caught in nose-to-tail traffic. Align played a major part in the rationalisation, disposal and legalisation of the corridor post construction.

Align sought to realise the best value from the land available for disposal by amalgamating parcels to enable development, access provision, and also importantly identifying where land should be retained by the agency.

Align disposed of the surplus property, originally acquired for the expressway, under the Public Works Act. This was the first of the Wellington Northern Corridor disposal projects completed. Disposal of properties continues, with a number close to clearing the statutory process and coming to market soon. Align has also been charged with legalising parts of the expressway for road.

Upper Glen Eden Branch Sewer Land Access

The wastewater infrastructure in the Glen Eden area was upgraded to prevent overflows after prolonged and heavy rainfall. Align helped to negotiate land access under the Local Government Act for the sewer line.

Discussions with stakeholders were conducted in an early, honest and open manner. We ensured their concerns were taken into account, including minimising disruption to residents and the general public.

We successfully created support and consequently land access for the project. It was a collaborative effort, good relationships were built with stakeholders and they were able to contribute to the solutions.