Land development covered from every angle: bring your questions and find the answers here!

Record land sales are becoming a regular feature of New Zealand's residential auction market, with large properties in areas zoned for medium- and high-density housing particularly sought after.

Subdividing land for development may appear to offer remarkable investment returns, but the entire project process is complicated and demanding, far beyond what an ordinary investor or developer can readily manage. The land subdivision seminar series, jointly presented by YIJU New Zealand and the Chinese Building Industry Association, aims to provide comprehensive guidance across disciplines and project stages for investment, property and construction professionals interested in subdivision.

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On the afternoon of 31 October, nearly 200 professionals from New Zealand's property, construction and related sectors gathered for the opening seminar in the series, ‘The golden age of subdivision for all: can everyone manage a land subdivision project?’

The opening seminar focused on preparation and planning in the early stages of subdivision. Five invited experts in property information, planning and design, policy interpretation, law and lending drew on their respective areas of expertise. Through professional explanations and case studies, they outlined the investment and preparation required at the outset of a subdivision project and ways to avoid potential risks effectively.

Following the progression of land development, the second seminar, to be held on the afternoon of 19 November, will explore key steps in the middle stages under the theme ‘Mid-project: subdivision, engineering, materials and law’.

• The importance of feasibility studies and planning in subdivision projects;
• How to safely demolish or alter an older house on a property with subdivision potential;
• Controlling earthworks costs and improving efficiency;
• How to choose appropriate, compliant exterior cladding materials for your subdivision project;
• How to use legal contracts to avoid development pitfalls;
• Small- and medium-scale land development from a council perspective.

How many new sections can a site be subdivided into? How many new homes can be built? How long will it take? How much investment is needed? What advantages, limitations and risks are involved?

…This seminar will explain the importance of planning throughout development in detail. Planning is a crucial factor in determining a developer's investment returns and chances of success.

Most developers buy large sites with existing older houses, so deciding what to do with those houses before development is another issue.

Can an older house be sold separately? What risks might demolition involve? In particular, how should asbestos, which is common in older New Zealand homes, be dealt with?

Earthworks are an unavoidable stage of land development. Saving money while improving efficiency at this stage directly affects cost and time management across the entire project. An experienced earthworks engineer will discuss common construction issues and offer solutions.

Building material selection is another topic of considerable interest. Material requirements for medium- and high-density housing inevitably differ somewhat from those for standalone homes. Appropriate materials, for example, can maximise building dimensions in a subdivision project. So how do you choose the right building materials?

What technical issues might arise during design and construction, and how should they be resolved? Attendees will find answers at the seminar.

As everyone knows, land subdivision and development involve many different parties and considerations through to project completion. Using contracts to define each party's rights and obligations is crucial.

A legal expert at this seminar will explain the importance of partnership agreements and construction contracts in land development, and how to draft contracts to avoid potential disputes between partners and guard against construction pitfalls.

At the opening seminar, Ethan Fu, an invited lecturer at training provider BIET and a development engineer at Auckland Council, gave an accessible explanation of New Zealand's land development laws and regulations. Drawing on case studies, he covered land purchases, development consent applications, construction and permit applications, providing valuable insights for attendees.

He has been invited back for the second seminar to discuss the reports required under the Unitary Plan and relevant regulatory engineering rules when the council assesses land development for small- and medium-scale residential projects, and the core matters the council focuses on in those reports.

He will also discuss and explain common issues encountered during council assessments, offering advice to help avoid unnecessary delays and additional costs. 

Guest speakers will also answer audience questions and provide free consultations. Whether you want to build on the opening seminar and learn more about potential mid-project issues and solutions, or had questions that could not be answered after the first seminar because of time constraints, you are welcome to register for the upcoming second seminar in the series.

The event on 31 October offered serious professional discussion as well as an opportunity to meet new friends and reconnect with old ones. The prize draw and auctions starting at $1 were also warmly received by attendees.

If you missed out on the prizes and auction items that day, there is no need for disappointment: these popular activities will return at the second seminar. There will be two prize draws with numerous premium prizes, as well as new Midea home appliances auctioned from $1. Can you take home your favourite appliance for less than its market price? If you can successfully bid for land, this should be well within your abilities.

Every attendee will also receive a voucher worth NZ$100 from Midea Appliances.

Registration for the second seminar is now open. We look forward to welcoming colleagues from across the property and construction industries!

Time: Thursday 19 November, 3:00pm–5:30pm

Venue: 153 Captain Springs Road, Onehunga, Auckland

Scan the QR code to register