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Introducing NZPRA

New association formed in Christchurch in response to property rights issues since earthquakes.

By Geof. A. Mead
October 9. 2014

New Zealand property Rights Association is a newly formed society established in response to concerns about property rights being eroded in New Zealand - especially by authorities since the series of earthquakes in Canterbury post September 4th 2010.

The NZPRA will work to remind politicians and the public what is meant by property rights and what we all have lost under continuing New Zealand legislation.

Instigation of Government initiatives outside of current existing legislation have led to the Red Zoning of almost eight thousand Christchurch properties.

Government Red zoning of land has effectively cleared the ownership of land and property from private ownership to that of Crown owned land.

This was done with no consultation with either the private owners’ of that land or the wider community.

The red zoning of entire suburbs in Christchurch, by the Government, has moved outside of existing legislation for the acquisition of land by the Crown.

The existing legislation includes the Public Works Act and the Christchurch Earthquake Recovery Act (CERA) and the Local Government Act (2002).

The NZPRA believes in the freedom to pursue certainty of secure property rights.

The NZPRA also believes that, within the framework of our current New Zealand legal system, our government needs to seriously review legislation that are restricting and steadily encroaching on our property rights and the principles of Chapter 29 of the Magna Carta.

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NZPRA believes that our government does not have the authority to divest people of their homes in the manner in which the red zoning was executed - this was by the use of executive order/order in council), and not by the use of existing legislation.

As the result of an action in the High Court Christchurch in 2013, the Court ruled that the Government Minister (with respect to the residential red zones), acted outside his powers.

An appeal by the Government moved the blame from the minister to the agency actually carrying out the Red Zone “Process” - CERA.

This issue is currently under judicial review by the Supreme Court.

NZPRA believes that further governmental actions, with respect to the private property owners within the Christchurch CBD, are also cause for concern about property rights in New Zealand

More about the NZPRA

No freeman shall be … disseissed of his freehold … Magna Carta, 1215

No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his property … Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 17(b), 1948

Everyone has the right to liberty of movement and freedom to choose his residence…
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Article 12(1), 1976.

Secure Property Rights are fundamental to Democracy and are the basis of our current prosperity.

PROPERTY- a piece of land often with buildings on it that is owned by a person, business, etc. A piece of real estate. Merriam-Webster English Dictionary

About New Zealand Property Rights Association (NZPRA)
The NZPRA's core belief is that property ownership is the foundation of a free society. The protection of property rights helps ensure the healthy functioning of the economy and rule of law in our country. New Zealand continues a long tradition of constitutional democracy and its precursor dating back to the days when Magna Carta was first introduced in England. One of the articles in Magna Carta still in use today guarantees the protection of property that belongs to ordinary people. Based on the principles of Magna Carta the NZPRA aims to promote and advance property rights, increase public awareness of property rights, and to achieve these by advocacy and education.

ENDS

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