CONTENTS

 

1.  Introduction

1

Acknowledgements

2

2.  The Nature of Easements, Covenants, Consent Notices and Encumbrances

3

Easements

4

Covenants

6

Traditional Land Covenants

6

Building or development schemes

7

Consent notices

8

S 240 Covenant

8

S 108(2) Covenant

9

Encumbrances

9

Practical exercise 2A: Introduction to Kim Jackson

11

Attachment 2A(i)

11

Attachment 2A(ii)

14

3.  Types of Easement and Issues with Covenants

17

Positive and Negative Easements

17

Types of Easement

17

Rights of Way

18

Attachment 3(i)

20

Rights to Drain Water/Convey Water

23

Rights to Convey Electricity and Telecommunications

24

Party Wall Easements

30

Rights to Light and Air

30

Land Covenants – Statutory Issues

32

Positive and Restrictive Covenants: Definitions

32

Positive and Restrictive Covenants: Legal Effect

33

Land Covenants - General Comments

34

Land Covenants – Conceptual Issues

40

Land Covenants vs Body Corporate Rules

40

Covenants vs the limits of the Unit Titles Act

41

Land Covenants vs Consent Notices

42

Covenants vs Grant of Resource Consent

43

Practical exercise 3A: Kim and Covenants

45

Attachment 3A(i) - 1

46

Attachment 3A(ii) – 1

49

Attachment 3A(iii) – 1

57

Practical exercise 3b: Kim and the E-Survey

65

Attachment 3B(i) – 1

66

4.  Drafting of Easements and Covenants

75

Preparation of easements for registration

77

Preparation of covenants for registration

79

Building Schemes

80

Background

81

Definition of terms

81

Referencing legislation

82

Dispute resolution clauses

83

Preparation of encumbrances for registration

83

practical exercise 4b: Kim and the Resource Consent

85

Attachment 4A(i) – 1

86

Attachment 4A(ii) – 1

92

Attachment 4B(iii) – 1

94

5.  Interpretation of Covenants

97

Interpreting a Contract

97

Interpreting a Public Document

97

Why the Difference is Important

98

Congreve in the High Court

98

Bonnar v Summerland – a forgotten case?

100

Thompson in the High Court

100

Comment

101

The Australian Approach – Westfield

102

Comment

102

Congreve and Thompson in the Court of Appeal

103

A Case Example and Comment on the Interpretation of Easements

105

practical exercises 5A: Kim and the Title

109

Attachment 5A – 1

110

6.  Modification and Surrender of Easements and Covenants

127

Variation of easements and covenants

128

Variation of easements and covenants by agreement between the parties

128

Modification of easements and covenants by the court

129

Surrender of Easements and Covenants

129

Surrender of easement or covenant by agreement between the parties

130

Surrender of easements and covenants by the court

130

Removal of easement from the Register

132

Additional extinguishing options

134

Merger

134

Abandonment

134

7.  Enforcement

135

Enforcement of easements

135

Enforcement of Positive Covenants

135

Enforcement of Easements and Covenants

135

Abatement

136