End-of-year deadline looms for property file requests

Time is running out to request Invercargill property files before the festive season, with the deadline set to expire at midnight.

Customers would need to request property files before midnight on Wednesday 17 December to ensure their requests were completed before Invercargill City Council closed during the holiday break.

Manager Consenting and Applications Gillian Cavanagh said any property file requests received after the deadline would not be completed before Christmas.

“We’ve already completed more than 5500 property file requests this year, and with the property market remaining buoyant in Invercargill, our services are in high demand,” she said.

“We are working as quickly as possible and will continue supplying property files until midday on Christmas Eve, but any requests received after 17 December will mostly likely be completed in the new year.”

Processing of property files would resume on Monday 5 January 2026.

Cavanagh said Land Information Memorandums (LIMs) had a separate 10-working-day processing time prescribed in the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act, and these requests were subject to a statutory pause between 20 December and 10 January.

“We are already in the 10-day window ahead of the statutory shutdown. LIM requests that were lodged and paid for before 8 December will be issued within the normal timeframe,” she said.

“We are still accepting and processing LIM requests while Council offices are open, but customers are advised that their requests may take longer over the holiday period – any days during the statutory shutdown do not count towards the 10-day processing time.”

“We thank the community for their understanding and look forward to assisting customers with their property record and LIM requests in the new year.”

Invercargill City Council offices close at midday on Wednesday 24 December and reopen on Monday 5 January 2026.