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.
Case Studies
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The Eastern Busway, or AMETI (Auckland Manukau Eastern Transport Initiative), is an Auckland Transport project delivering a dedicated busway and shared-use path through Panmure, Pakuranga and Botany. Stage one, EB1 between Panmure and Pakuranga, opened in December 2022, with full completion expected by 2027.
Subsequent stages EB2, EB3 and EB4 are being delivered by the Eastern Busway Alliance, comprising Auckland Transport, Fletcher Construction, Acciona, AECOM and Jacobs, working with mana whenua, Auckland Council and Waka Kotahi.
Align has supported all stages, providing property services and acquiring land to enable timely construction across complex statutory and infrastructure delivery environments nationwide projects.
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Align was appointed by Waipa Networks to plan and manage route and site selection, property, consenting, stakeholder engagement and communications for a 35 kilometre 110 kV electricity transmission line between the Te Awamutu and Hangatiki substations. This included budgeting, programming, governance, risk, legal, and contractor and consultant management.
The route was optimised by breaking it into smaller sections and refining it through expert advice and landowner feedback. Workstreams were integrated and scheduled using Agile project management aligned to construction and regulatory timeframes. The project was completed on time and within budget, with no Environment Court appeal following the council hearing.
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The Auckland Light Rail project aims to expand Auckland’s rapid transit network with a 24 kilometre rail line from the City Centre to Māngere including 18 stations.
This initiative is led by the Auckland Light Rail Alliance, a partnership between Waka Kotahi, Auckland Transport, Auckland Council, the Ministry of Transport and Kāinga Ora. It supports sustainable urban growth, stronger communities and better transport choices.
Align’s property team provides due diligence, ownership analysis, site selection, risk assessment and cost forecasting to support the property programme and help make Tāmaki Makaurau a better place for current and future generations.
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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.
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Align was appointed by the NZ Transport Agency to acquire land under the Public Works Act 1981 for the Northern Corridor Improvements project between SH18 and SH1 in Auckland.
The acquisitions included complex full and partial purchases of commercial and residential properties. For large roading projects, Align acts with empathy and understanding towards affected landowners, aiming for win-win outcomes for landowners, NZTA and LINZ. This involves regular communication throughout negotiations.
To date, Align has secured 80 percent of landowner approvals on a willing-seller willing-buyer basis, with the remainder expected well before construction deadlines.
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The Mackays to Peka Peka project delivered an 18 kilometre four-lane expressway, a key part of the Wellington Northern Corridor. The previous highway had poor safety and frequent closures. Align played a major role in rationalising, disposing and legalising the corridor post construction.
Align worked to maximise value by amalgamating parcels for development and access, while identifying land to retain. Surplus property, originally acquired for the expressway, was disposed of under the Public Works Act.
This was the first Wellington Northern Corridor disposal completed, with more properties nearing market release. Align also legalised parts of the expressway for road use.
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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.
Meet our Experts
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Chris Cochrane
Christchurch Team Leader – Property
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Clare Collett
National Manager – Land Disposal
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Fenella Fischer
Auckland/Northland and Waikato/BOP Regional Manager - Property
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Jonathan Wright
Wellington Team Leader – Property
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Mel Wilson
Hawkes Bay Team Leader – Property
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Peter Gore
Hamilton Team Leader – Property
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Rachael Williams
Tauranga Team Leader - Property
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Stacey Nichols
Auckland Team Leader – Property
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Steve Lamontagne
Lower North Island and South Island Regional Manager - Property
