About Community Governance Open source Publish
Membership Become a member Always free

Act · 1987 · Tier 2

Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987

Also known as: LGOIMA, LIM disclosure

Last verified against legislation.govt.nz on 17 April 2026. Natural-hazard LIM provisions (sections 44B–44D) came into force by 1 July 2025.

What it is

The Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 (LGOIMA) governs access to information held by local authorities in New Zealand. It is the local-government counterpart to the Official Information Act 1982, which covers central government. Most of LGOIMA concerns general public information rights; for property transactions, the key provisions are in sections 44A to 44D, governing the Land Information Memorandum (LIM).

Significant amendments made by the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Amendment Act 2023 expanded the LIM disclosure regime, particularly regarding natural hazards and climate-change-related information. The amendments came into force by 1 July 2025, with supporting regulations in force from 17 October 2025.

What it covers

  • Sections 44A–44D: the statutory requirements for what must be included in a Land Information Memorandum (LIM).
  • Natural-hazard information (section 44B, new from 2023/2025): requirements that natural hazards affecting the land be disclosed, including hazards in district plan maps and "potential hazards."
  • Good-faith liability protection (section 44D, new from 2023/2025): councils are not liable in civil or criminal proceedings for making available in good faith natural-hazard information in a LIM.
  • Process: how a LIM is requested (from the relevant territorial authority), the timeframe for provision (typically 10 working days), and the fee.

What it gives you

For purchasers:

  • A statutory right to obtain a LIM from the council, subject to payment of the fee.
  • Access to council-held information on consents, code compliance certificates, rates, zoning, easements, private and public works, hazardous substances, and (from 2025) comprehensive natural-hazard information.
  • A defined document that solicitors and inspectors can review as part of due diligence.

For vendors:

  • The ability to obtain a LIM in advance of listing and to provide it with marketing materials, reducing buyer uncertainty.
  • A document that may answer some routine buyer queries without requiring vendor involvement.

What a LIM contains

Section 44A lists the mandatory contents of a LIM. Every territorial authority provides at least:

  • Special features of the land — flooding, erosion, subsidence, contamination (as known to the council).
  • Private and public water supplies — how the property is served.
  • Drainage, sewerage, and stormwater — connections and arrangements.
  • Rates — current rates and any outstanding arrears.
  • Building consents, permits, requisitions, certificates — a record of consents issued, inspections undertaken, CCCs issued, and any notices to fix or consent breaches.
  • Planning zone — the district plan classification and any restrictions.
  • Designations and requirements — any public-work designations affecting the land.
  • Encumbrances and agreements — any that the council holds.
  • Natural hazards (expanded from 2025, under new section 44B) — including hazards in district plan maps and "potential hazards" where the council is satisfied there is a reasonable possibility of impact.

LIMs vary in length and detail by territorial authority. Auckland Council LIMs are typically longer than rural council LIMs because the information holdings are larger. The fee ranges from about $300 to $500 depending on the council and the urgency.

Key sections and how they work

Section 44A — Land information memorandum

Section 44A establishes the vendor's or purchaser's right to request a LIM from the council, the information that must be included, and the process. A LIM is issued by the territorial authority (council) in which the land is located.

The 2023 amendment expanded s.44A(2)(a) to require inclusion of natural-hazard information regardless of whether the hazards are already apparent in district plan maps. This closed a previous gap where natural hazards known to the council but not yet reflected in district plan mapping were not reliably disclosed.

Section 44B — Natural hazard information (new, 2023)

Section 44B sets detailed requirements for natural-hazard disclosure in a LIM. The section clarifies what counts as a "potential hazard" — one where the council is satisfied that there is a reasonable possibility that the hazard or its impact may affect the land now or in the future. The information must be summarised in a way that is understandable to the public.

This provision means that from 2025, LIMs routinely include natural-hazard disclosures (flooding zones, landslip risk, coastal erosion, liquefaction, seismic considerations) in a standardised, readable format. For properties in hazard-exposed areas, the LIM now surfaces information that may previously have been scattered across technical reports.

Section 44D — Protection from liability (new, 2023)

Section 44D protects councils from civil or criminal liability for making natural-hazard information available in a LIM in good faith. This addresses councils' previous reluctance to summarise hazard information for fear of liability if the summary contained inaccuracies. The protection is conditional on good faith — it does not cover reckless or deliberately misleading disclosure.

LIM vs property file vs title search

Three related but distinct documents are often confused:

  • LIM (Land Information Memorandum) — council-prepared summary under LGOIMA. Summarises council-held information about the property. Mandatory contents set by statute.
  • Property file — the full set of documents the council holds about the property (consent applications, plans, inspection records, correspondence). More detailed than a LIM. Accessed under the general Official Information Act / LGOIMA provisions. Fee usually lower than a LIM, but also longer to receive.
  • Title search / Record of Title — issued by Land Information NZ (LINZ), not the council. Shows ownership, encumbrances registered against the title, easements, covenants. Different source, different purpose.

A thorough pre-purchase due diligence will typically include all three: LIM for council-held summary, property file for detail on specific consents or concerns, and title search for ownership and encumbrance status.

How the Act is applied in practice

For a typical residential transaction:

  • The purchaser makes the purchase conditional on obtaining and being satisfied with a LIM (standard condition in the ADLS Agreement for Sale and Purchase). The LIM condition typically runs 10 to 15 working days.
  • The purchaser orders the LIM from the territorial authority, paying the fee.
  • The council issues the LIM within the statutory timeframe.
  • The purchaser's solicitor reviews the LIM for issues — missing CCCs, natural-hazard flags, consent breaches, outstanding rates, unexpected zoning constraints.
  • If issues are identified, the purchaser can negotiate, require remediation, or — in material cases — cancel the contract under the LIM condition.

Some vendors order a LIM before listing and provide it with marketing materials. This is a legitimate approach that speeds the purchaser's due diligence. A pre-listed LIM is typically valid for the period the council defines (commonly three months); if the listing runs longer, a fresh LIM may be needed.

Common misuses

"The LIM shows everything about the property"

The LIM shows council-held information. It does not show matters outside council knowledge — private agreements, latent defects, neighbourhood dynamics. It does not replace a building inspection or a solicitor's title search.

"No mention of a hazard means no hazard"

Pre-2025 LIMs sometimes omitted natural hazards the council knew about. The 2023 amendment addressed this. For LIMs issued before the amendment came into force, do not treat absence of mention as absence of hazard. For LIMs issued after 1 July 2025, the inclusion requirement is stronger, but "potential hazards" still depend on what the council has considered.

"The LIM is the council's guarantee of compliance"

A LIM is a summary of information known to the council at the time of issue. It is not a guarantee. Historical inaccuracy in council records can produce inaccurate LIMs. Council liability for LIM errors is limited; section 44D specifically protects good-faith natural-hazard disclosure.

When you might cite this Act

  • Requesting or reviewing a LIM. The statutory right to request is in section 44A. The content requirement is in section 44A(2) and the new section 44B.
  • Where a LIM is silent on a matter you know the council has information about. You can make a specific request under LGOIMA's general official-information provisions for additional detail.
  • Where a LIM appears inaccurate. Request a correction from the council, escalating to the Ombudsman if the council declines.
  • Where natural-hazard information affects your risk assessment. The 2023 amendment strengthens the required disclosure; rely on the expanded content.

Related rules

Authoritative sources

Our guides that use this Act