LINZ
Disbursements.

When you buy, sell, or refinance a property in New Zealand, your lawyer must interact with Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) — the government agency responsible for managing the land title system. Every property transaction involves steps carried out through Landonline, LINZ’s secure digital platform for property records and title registration.

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LINZ charges statutory fees for the searches and registrations your lawyer performs as part of your transaction. These are known as disbursements — expenses paid to third parties on your behalf and then passed through to you at cost. They are not part of your lawyer’s fee but are necessary for completing your property transfer.

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Common LINZ Fees You’ll Encounter

There are two main types of LINZ charges that apply to most conveyancing matters:

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1. Search Fees — $8.00 per search

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This fee applies whenever your lawyer accesses official records such as:

• The record of title for the property

• Any interests or encumbrances (like easements, covenants, or caveats)

• Instruments registered against the title

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Searches are part of your lawyer’s due diligence process. They confirm ownership, identify any restrictions, and ensure that what’s on the ground matches what’s legally recorded. A post-settlement title search is also carried out to verify that the transfer has been successfully registered in your name.

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2. Registration Fees — $122.00 per instrument

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A registration fee applies each time your lawyer registers or updates something on the title, such as:

• A transfer of ownership

• Registration of a new mortgage

• Discharge of an existing mortgage

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If you’re purchasing a property with a new home loan, you will usually see two registration fees — one for transferring the property into your name and another for registering your bank’s mortgage. Similarly, if you are refinancing, the discharge of your old mortgage and registration of the new one will each attract a separate $122.00 fee.

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How These Fees Appear on Your Invoice

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Because LINZ charges these amounts directly through its Landonline system, your lawyer pays them on your behalf during the transaction. They are then listed on your final statement as “LINZ Disbursements” or “LINZ Fees.” These are charged at cost — there is no markup or additional administration fee.

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Example

If you’re buying a home with finance, your LINZ disbursements will typically include:

• 1x title search ($8.00)

• 1x guaranteed title search ($8.00) preformed day before settlement to confirm clear title

• 1x transfer registration ($122.00)

• 1x mortgage registration ($122.00)

• 2x post registration searches ($16.00) showing your names registered and the mortgage instrument to be forwarded to your bank
  Total: $276.00 in LINZ fees

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Your lawyer will provide you with a copy of the final registered title once the transaction is complete, showing you as the new registered owner.

 

Further Information

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You can view the most up-to-date schedule of LINZ fees directly on the Land Information New Zealand website at: https://www.linz.govt.nz/products-services/landonline/landonline-fees-and-charges/survey-and-title-fees

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At Hobbs Law, we believe in full transparency about costs. All LINZ disbursements are charged exactly as incurred — so you know every dollar is accounted for and necessary to complete your property transaction properly.