Ad medium filum aquae

The literal translation is "to the centre thread of the river". The term refers to the English common law presumption that the beds of non-tidal rivers and lakes were owned by the adjoining landowners to the centre line or centre point.

Access strip

A strip of land created under the Resource Management Act 1991 for the purpose of allowing public access to or along any river, or lake, or the coast, or to any esplanade reserve, esplanade strip, other reserve, or land owned by the local authority or by the Crown (excluding land held for a public work).

Cadastral map

A representation at a scale of the boundary features relating to land in a district in a graphic or digital form.

Certainty

Knowledge of tenure is critical in determining certainty of access, when it can occur and under what conditions.

Conduct

How people behave when on private and public land and the expectations held by landowner.

Crown Grant

When the Crown originally sold land it was necessary to give the purchaser documentary evidence of ownership and to this end "Crown Grants" were issued.

Curtilage

An area that surrounds a building. This area could be subject to access restrictions in the interests of privacy and safety. The extent of a curtilage will depend on the size, setting and use of the building.

Esplanade reserve

Land reserved under the Resource Management Act 1991 for various listed purposes, of which public access may or may not be included. The land is owned by the territorial authority.

Esplanade strip

A strip of land registered under the Resource Management Act 1991 for various listed purposes, of which public access may, or may not be, included. The land remains vested in the private owner.

Hapu

Maori subtribe or groups of families within an iwi.

Information

The generation, collection, dissemination and accessibility of accurate and clear information relating to land access.

Iwi

Maori tribe.

kaitiaki

Guardians. An iwi, hapū or whānau group with the responsibilities to take care of the places, natural resources and other taonga in their territory.

Mahinga kai

Traditional food or resource areas.

Mahinga mātaitai

Traditional fishing ground.

Manawhenua

Traditional status, rights and responsibilities of iwi, hapu or whanau as residents in their territory.

Mechanisms

Appropriate processes for avoiding and managing conflicts and concerns relating to access.

Marginal strip

Strip of land reserved from the sale of Crown land along banks of rivers and lakes and above the high tide mark held for conservation and access purposes. Reserved from disposition of land for Crown.

Pakeha

New Zealanders other than tangata whenua.

Is taken to mean, for the purposes of this report:

• Any land (other than unformed legal road) that is for the time being held in fee simple by any person other than the Crown;
• Any Māori land within the meaning of the Māori Affairs Act 1953;
• Any land (other than unformed legal road) held by a person; under a lease or licence granted to that person by the Crown (without any requirement for the provision of public access).

Public land

Includes parks and reserves held by local government or the Department of Conservation for a variety of purposes, and Crown Lands and Forests held by LINZ, State-owned enterprises, and licensees which are available for public recreation.

Queen’s Chain

Popular term used to describe land under various mechanisms and legislation that enables public access alongside rivers, lakes and the coast.

Riparian land

The land along side rivers or lakes.