Justice Centre | 19 Aitken Street
DX SX10088 | Wellington
T 04 918 8800 |
F 04 918 8820
[email address] | www.justice.govt.nz
29 January 2026
John Luke
[email address]
Our ref: OIA 128811
Tēnā koe John
Official Information Act request: Land Valuation Tribunal members
Thank you for your further email of 16 December 2025 to the Ministry of Justice (the
Ministry) requesting, under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act), information regarding
expressions of interest sought for appointing members to the Land Valuation Tribunal (the
Tribunal). Specifically, you requested:
1. "Members – section 19(2) of the Act provides that: Every Land Valuation
Tribunal shall consist of— (a) 1 member, being a District Court Judge, who
shall be appointed as Chairman of the Tribunal: (b) 2 other members, one
or both of whom shall be valuers registered under the Valuers Act 1948."
How many of your current members are registered valuers under the
Valuers Act 1948, and how many are not?
2. "Deputy Members – section 19(9) of the Act provides that: The Governor-
General may from time to time appoint any person to be the deputy of any
member of any Land Valuation Tribunal"
How many deputy members do you currently have, and could you please
provide their names and terms of appointment? May I also request to view
the sample warrant of appointment for deputy member.
3. "Since the Ministry’s letter to you of 5 August 2025, no progression has
been made, as a shortlist has not yet been confirmed and interviews have
not taken place"
Could you please provide an update on this for now, given that it will be a
few more months?
4. "Appointments are currently being sought for the following Tribunals: •
Hawke’s Bay Land Valuation Tribunal • Marlborough Land Valuation
Tribunal • Palmerston North Land Valuation Tribunal • Waikato No. 1 Land
Valuation Tribunal • Waikato No. 2 Land Valuation Tribunal • Whanganui
Land Valuation Tribunal "
I noticed that you have only received two applications, which suggests
there may be a shortage of applicants for the positions you require. How
do you plan to handle this situation? Would you consider calling for
another expression of interest? I would like to understand your process
and procedures in such cases. If there are insufficient applicants, would
you simply reappoint the existing member for another term? Also, do the
two applicants automatically get the positions, given the high demand and
low supply?
For ease of reference, I have numbered your requests and responded to each in turn.
1. How many of your current members are registered valuers under the Valuers Act
1948, and how many are not?
All current Tribunal members are registered valuers.
2. How many deputy members do you currently have, and could you please provide
their names and terms of appointment? May I also request to view the sample
warrant of appointment for deputy member.
There are currently no deputy members. An example warrant for a previous deputy
member has been provided for your information. Please note, some information has
been withheld under section 9(2)(a) of the Act, to protect the privacy of individuals.
3. Could you please provide an update on this for now, given that it will be a few more
months?
The Minister has agreed to the appointment of two new Tribunal members. We
expect the appointments to be completed in the coming months.
4. I noticed that you have only received two applications, which suggests there may be
a shortage of applicants for the positions you require. How do you plan to handle this
situation? Would you consider calling for another expression of interest? I would like
to understand your process and procedures in such cases. If there are insufficient
applicants, would you simply reappoint the existing member for another term? Also,
do the two applicants automatically get the positions, given the high demand and low
supply?
While it would be inappropriate to comment on individual member appointments, the
Minister is currently considering options related to the appointments that would
provide greater flexibility for Tribunals and address a number of operational issues.
Once those decisions are made (and a decision is expected in the next few months)
we will be able to provide greater detail about the overall membership and structure
of the Tribunals.
Please note that this response, with your personal details removed, may be published
on the Ministry website at:
Official Information Act responses | New Zealand Ministry
of Justice. If you are not satisfied with this response, you have the right to make a complaint to the
Ombudsman under section 28 of the Act. The Office of the Ombudsman may be contacted
by phone on: 0800 802 602, by email at: [email address], or via the
webform:
Make a complaint (for members of the public) | Ombudsman New Zealand. Nāku noa, nā
Wayne Newall
Manager, Appointments and Specialist Functions
