Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) has told a parliamentary select committee that tranche one of its project to build a replacement system for Landonline is currently on track for a June 2020 completion.

This is included in the 2018/19 Annual review of Land Infofmation New Zealand which has been released by Parliament's Primary Production Committee.

LINZ has decided to build its own replacement system for New Zealand's property transaction system, Landonline, instead of procuring an international solution. The rebuild project is called STEP (Survey and Title Enhancement Programme) and it was approved by Cabinet in October 2018.

The committee's report says that to ensure a smooth process, the programme has been organised into four tranches over a five year period. It says tranche one is currently on track for a June 2020 completion.

The committee notes that LINZ has taken on 79 staff since the last financial year, an increase of 12.7%.

"We heard that the majority of LINZ’s 79 new staff have been taken on for the STEP project. It aims to have as many employees as possible on the project, rather than using contractors. LINZ advised us that this approach would ensure it retains the capability to maintain and continue improving the system. We look forward to hearing how STEP is progressing at the next annual review," it says.