Critical success factors of land development in New Zealand : A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Property Studies at Lincoln University

Abstract

Land development in New Zealand has become a complex undertaking with a significant number of issues for consideration. Local and Central Government have established rigorous legislative and regulatory policies via the Resource Management Act 1991 and district plans. Working effectively within the requirements of statutory and regulatory boundaries requires careful planning and strategy. The most successful projects are those with principals who recognize the importance of considering all the critical elements required to maximize success. This includes thorough site selection and due diligence investigations, a detailed development plan, a skilled and cohesive team, an appropriate funding structure and an effective marketing strategy. This dissertation investigates development processes and critical success factors that are suggested in theory against real land development projects and how closely related the two processes are. Research was conducted to establish how critical those factors identified in the literature review (collectively or individually) are to real land development projects.