Annual Technical Workshops

ICS convenes a day-long event in August each year made up of workshop sessions and presentations on topics of interest to cadastral surveyors. The formal part of the day is generally followed by informal drinks and a shared evening meal. These workshops are an excellent form of CPD and a great way to meet other like-minded professionals. Workshops are open to members and non-members.

Past Workshops

2023 Workshop

The 2023 Workshop returned to the Devon Hotel in beautiful Ngāmotu New Plymouth. The workshop was held on the 12th of August and consisted of a day of sessions across a diverse range of topics, followed as always by an enjoyable social evening.

The full list of presentations is as follows:

    Resource Management Act Reform: Lauren Wallace, Partner, Govett Quilliam The Lawyers

    The search for Flight MH370: Neil Farrant, Retired Hydrographic Surveyor

    Limited Titles – Fundamental Principles: Mike Morris, Principal Cadastral Surveyor, LINZ

    The Modernising Landonline Programme (survey capture excellence including irregular boundaries, the future of plan visualisation, Whats next in new Landonline, Q&A on new Landonline matters and feedback): Nick Stillwell, Lead Consulting Surveyor, LINZ

    18 through 28 – Experiences as a New Surveyor and Business Owner: GJ Pike, Delaco Ltd

    Reflections nearing the end of a Surveying Career:
    Colin Jackson, Bland & Jackson Ltd

    Causes and Impact of Future Sea Level Rise along the coast of Aotearoa: Richard Levy, Environment and Climate Theme Leader, GNS Science

The 2022 Workshop returned to Ōtautahi Christchurch, to the newly opened Te Pae Convention Centre. The workshop on 27 August attracted 21 registrants from across NZ for a fascinating day of sessions primarily presented by staff from Toitū Te Whenua (LINZ) and the NZ School of Surveying.

The full programme was as follows:

The 2021 Workshop was to have been held in Dunedin however after being once postponed due to a Level 4 lockdown, it was eventually cancelled.

The 2020 Workshop was held at the Copthorne Oriental Hotel in Wellington. What was looking to be a near-record attendance was thwarted by the extended Level 3 Covid19 lockdown restrictions for Auckland and the subsequent cancellation of Jetstar flights from all main centres. Nevertheless, 11 ICS Members attended, along with 2 additional members via a “Zoom” on-line meeting platform. Another eight guests joined us throughout the day for the Workshop sessions to present on a variety of cadastral topics. As has been the case in recent years LINZ in particular gave generously of their time with four speakers covering a range of topics from historical case law through current Landonline compliance to the future in the form of STEP.

The full programme was as follows:

    ICS Strategic Planning Review – Brent George (ICS Secretary)
    CSLB Update – Vicki Nalder (CSLB Chair)
    Water Centreline Boundaries – Anselm Haanen (Surveyor-General), Andrew Fenney(LINZ
    STEP Update – Georgina Beattie (LINZ)
    CSD Compliance trends and feedback – Mike Morris (LINZ)
    Professional Indeminity Insurance – Colin McElwain (LPMS), Katische Remnant (AON NZ Ltd)
    Putting Baldwin Street back in the Record Books – Toby Stoff (Clarke Fortune McDonald & Associates)

For the 2019 Workshop the ICS returned to Christchurch, albeit to a new venue (The Commodore Hotel) on 31 August 2019. The best attended ICS Workshop yet, there were members present from across Aotearoa and even some local surveyors from outside the ICS. There were a diverse range of presentations, highlights being Lyndon Telfer’s first public unveiling of the first draft of the new Rules for Cadastral Survey and Carl Fox’s presentation on business contingency planning, which was a topic of much discussion during the social segments of the day.

The full programme was as follows:

    Business Contingency Planning – Carl Fox (Fox & Associates Ltd)
    s.224 RMA Certification – Paul Lowe (Christchurch City Council)
    Rules for Cadastral Survey Update – Lyndon Telfer (LINZ)
    Marginal Strips – Lloyd McGarvey (LINZ)
    Definition Techniques for Water Boundaries
    Diagrams on Transfer – Tony Nikkel (LINZ)
    Limited Titles: Searching for Old Marks – Pat Sole (Pat Sole Surveying)
    Aspects of Unit Titles – Alex Liggett (Fox & Associates Ltd), Mark Geddes (TL Survey Services Ltd), Reuben Vos (Access Land Surveying Ltd)

For the 2018 Workshop the ICS ventured away from the Christchurch for the first time, and the workshop was held in the Devon Hotel, New Plymouth on 25 August 2018. A day of very high quality workshop sessions followed the AGM, at which two new committee members were elected. Highlights were a presentation by CSLB Chair Vicki Nalder on some of the recent concerns of the CSLB, and an excellent session on limited titles from ICS President Pat Sole. This was followed by socialising and dinner to the background of the Black Ferns and All Blacks steamrolling their Australian counterparts.

The full programme was as follows:

    Landonline – Behind the Scenes – Georgina Beattie (LINZ)
    ASaTS Progress Update – James Mowat (LINZ)
    ASaTS/Landonline – Key Issues and Opportunities Nick Stillwell (LINZ/NZIS)
    Cadastral Surveyors Licensing Board – Trends and Issues Vicki Nalder (CSLB)
    Cadastral and Technology Impacts – Colin Jackson (Bland & Jackson)
    Limited Titles: Issues and Strategies- Pat Sole (Pat Sole Surveying)
    Christchurch Quake Aftermath – AJ Cowie (Topografo)
    Review of the RCS – Stage 2 Part 1 – Bruce Speirs (Land Services Group)
    Cadastral Examples and Issues – Brent George (Resonant)

The 2017 Workshop was held at the Sudima Hotel in Christchurch on 26th August 2017. Following the AGM, at which new executive officers were elected, another great day of CPD was enjoyed by all, including a session on ASaTS with a briefing from LINZ and the results of our member survey.

The presentations were as follows:

    ASaTS: Son of Landonline – James Mowat (LINZ)
    Correction Surveys – Mark Geddes (TL Surveys)
    GIS – 3D Visualisation and applications to web based technology – Kurt Janssen (Orbica)
    Survey definition and problem solving session – Brent George (KOA)
    Christchurch definitions (High Court examples) – AJ Cowie (Topografo)
    RCS2010 review – Bruce Speirs (Land Services Group)

The 2016 Workshop was held at the new and improved Sudima Hotel in Christchurch on 27th August 2016. Following the AGM, an interesting programme of workshop topics were covered, including a facilitated introspection on the Direction of the ICS. After a delightful dinner, most members then enjoyed watching the All Blacks second convincing victory over the Wallabies!!!

The presentations were as follows:

    Graduate Training – Alex Liggett (Fox and Associates)
    RCS 2016: An Update – Bruce Speirs (Land Services Group)
    Equipment: GNSS and Robotic Total Stations – Mike Wilson (Accuarate Instruments)
    The Direction of the ICS – Lyall Lukey (Lukey Resources)
    The Misuse of GNSS in Cadastral Surveying – Brent George (KOA)
    London Olympic Venue 2012 – Mark Geddes (TL Surveys)

The 2015 Workshop was again held at the Sudima Hotel in Christchurch on 29 August 2015. After the AGM, attendees enjoyed a varied programme of speakers and topics.
The presentations were as follows:

    Chris Hoogsteden Award Proposal – Simon Jenkin
    Cadastral Definitions in Christchurch – Brent George (ICS/NZIS Working Group – Earthquake Affected Boundaries)
    Thinking Outside the Square: The Non-traditional or Innovative Use of Survey Technology – Tony Nikkel (Nikkel Surveying Ltd)
    Drone Use in Surveying – Jared Reeves (Overview Surveying)
    Detailed Data Analysis – Adrian Cowie (Topografo Ltd)
    Hydrographic Control in the Auckland Islands – Brent George (Andersen & Associates – A Division of KOA Ltd)

The 2014 Workshop was held at the Sudima Hotel in Christchurch on 30 August 2014. After the AGM, attendees enjoyed a varied programme of presentations.

    Cadastral Surveyor Licensing – Alex Liggett (Andersen & Associates)
    Significant Failures: s7(1)(d) – Tony Nikkel (CSLB)
    LINZ Survey & Titles: Operations and Requistion Rates – Lyndon Telfer and Don McKinnon (LINZ)
    Limited as to Parcels: Case Study Part 2 – Simon Jenkin
    Equipment Trends – Brian Shanahan
    ICS Future Projects – Mark Geddes

The 2013 Workshop was held at the Sudima Hotel in Christchurch on 24 August 2013. After the AGM, attendees enjoyed a varied programme of presentations. Summaries of the papers presented are as follows:
Internet Security, Websites and Operating Systems – Aaron May (MTech)
LTA Review / Cadastral Survey Dataset Structure – Bruce Speirs (Land Services Group Ltd)
LandonLine and an Expanded Cadastre – James Mowat (Land Information NZ)