Rights in Property
Property rights are the formal and informal rules that govern access to and use of property. Rights in property include the rights to determine the use of property, income from property, disposal of property, and the exclusion of others from property.
Without property rights no other rights are possible and well-assigned and enforced rights in property provide the basis for many things we take for granted, including peaceful coexistence, prosperity, and conservation.
While there are cases where the taking of property or an impact on a property right might be justified in the public interest, the test should be set at a high threshold and any takings or impairments must be fully and fairly compensated.
With physical property or land being an important part of any farm business, the protection of rights in property is a particular concern to farmers.
This is one of the reasons why Federated Farmers is a strong supporter of the Regulatory Standards Bill (RSB). The RSB has six principles for good regulation, one of which pertains specifically to takings of property. We also want reform of the Resource Management Act to make provision for compensation for takings.
Federated Farmers wants
- Passage of the Regulatory Standards Bill, including the principle on property rights.
- An amendment to the Resource Management Act requiring full market compensation for landowners if land use is restricted under the RMA.
Spokesperson
Federated Farmers Property Rights spokesperson is National President Bruce Wills, you can contact him at bwills@fedfarm.org.nz.
