The Advanced Survey and Title Services (ASaTS), which will replace the Landonline title platform, is expected to be in service in 2021, Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) says.

In its Annual Report for the year to 30 June 2017, LINZ says it continued its work in procuring ASaTS in 2016/17.

"ASaTS is expected to improve the functions already offered by Landonline and be a more interactive system for customers such as surveyors and conveyancers. They'll be able to plug in their own software to reduce rework, use ASaTS on tablets and other mobile devices, and represent property boundaries in 3D," it says.

LINZ says it has taken an "as a service" approach to developing ASaTS.

"This means that instead of paying a vendor to build a system that we would then own, we will select a vendor that can deliver a suitable system that we will then pay to access. The opportunities for the vendor to provide that system to other jurisdictions will lower the overall cost to us over the life of the system."

LINZ is now working through procurement processes to find a vendor to deliver to this model, it says.

During the year to 30 June 2017 210,000 titles were issued or reissued and 634,000 instruments were lodged, the report says. There are 2.2 million live titles in Landonline.

The Landonline survey and title system is highly regarded by the World Bank, the report says, contributing to New Zealand being ranked number one on the world for the ease of doing business.

Overseas Investment Office

The Overseas Investment Office introduced more efficient, transparent and user-friendly processes during the year and boosted enforcement resources to ensure overseas buyers get consent when they need to, give truthful and complete information and are held to account for the commitments they make, LINZ Chief Executive Andrew Crisp says.

The OIO completed 170 assessments during the year, with a 15 day reduction in the average assessment time when compared to the year to 30 June 2016.

During the year the OIO received 154 applications and 167 applications were consented, with 152 applications accepted for processing. Three applications were declined and 9 were withdrawn.

LINZ says the key focus for the OIO in 2017/18 will be further development of the enforcement function and continued improvements that enhance application quality and decision timeliness.