Over the years there have naturally been some changes, but in essentials, the Valuation Department remains an independent authority whose valuations are used for a wide variety of public and private purposes. On the one hand, the State Advances Corporation now employs its own field staffs; many valuations, formerly made for the Lands and Survey Department, are today undertaken by that Department's staff. On the other hand, increasing demands are being made by other Government Departments and quasi-Government agencies on this Department's specialised knowledge in the fields of land utilisation and land economics. Today it is being called upon to supply special valuations (approximately 14,000 per annum) for use in connection with a big sector of Government activity. On the part of the public, too, there has been an ever-increasing reliance upon Government valuations.

The general revaluations of district valuation rolls is proceeding continuously, individual districts being revalued at not more than five-yearly intervals, and the rolls are kept up to date in respect of subdivisions of land, new and altered buildings, and changes in ownership or occupancy. By 31 March 1965 there were a total of 913,000 separate properties on the rolls with a gross capital value of £4,230 million. For the year ending 31 March 1965 valuations were made of 33,000 new and altered buildings; 30,000 new sections were assessed, and roll alterations totalled 231,000.

All valuations for roll purposes are issued subject to the right of objection, any such cases are referred to the District Valuers for checking, followed, if necessary, by discussion with the property owner. Land Valuation Committees, constituted under the Land Valuation Court Act of 1948, deal with that small proportion of objections where agreement is not eventually reached. The decisions of these committees are subject to an appeal to the Land Valuation Court.

The Valuers Act of 1948 provided for the registration of valuers and set up a registration board for that purpose, the Valuer-General being chairman. By 31 December 1964 there were 327 registered rural valuers, 360 registered urban valuers, and 55 holding the dual qualification.

by John Stuart Hector Robertson, B.COM., Senior Executive Officer, Valuation Department, Wellington.