Contaminated land

Sites with a hazardous history

Some historic and current activities can leave a legacy of contamination because of the way hazardous substances are used, stored or disposed of.

As land is developed in New Zealand, it is important to know where contaminated (or potentially contaminated) land is located.

Selected Land Use Register (SLUR)

Land in the Wellington region where hazardous substances have been used, stored or disposed of is recorded on our Selected Land Use Register (SLUR). Registers like SLUR can help local authorities during their consenting process.

Registered sites are where hazardous activities have historically or are currently taking place. Some of these sites are service stations, paint manufacturing plants, landfills, former gasworks and airports.

Sites are included on the register to record the history of land use. Then if a change to a more sensitive land use is proposed (e.g. industrial to residential), the risk to potential users can be assessed. Most SLUR sites are not confirmed as contaminated but have a verified history of where a hazardous activity has taken place.

We regularly update the SLUR with new information from district and city councils, internal desktop investigations, independent consultant reports and local knowledge.

SLUR sites in the Wellington region

We administer SLUR for the Greater Wellington region. It is updated when we receive information, including for currently registered sites, if sites are subdivided or when new sites are added.

Every year the number of sites that are reviewed or added to SLUR varies. The most up-to-date sites can be found using our map search tool.

Find out how to search SLUR.

Hazardous Activities and Industries List

The Ministry for the Environment produced the Hazardous Activities and Industries List (HAIL) in 2011, which is used to identify sites to include on the SLUR.

HAIL identifies 53 activities and industries that are considered hazardous and have the potential to contaminate a site from the use, storage or disposal of a hazardous substance.

Read more about HAIL.

Environmental standards

Local authorities in New Zealand administer the National Environmental Standards for Assessing and Managing Contaminants in Soil to Protect Human Health (NESCS, 2012). These standards are triggered if land that has been occupied by a HAIL activity is to be redeveloped to a more sensitive use or the soil is to be disturbed.

Read more about NESCS.

For further information

To request further information about an included site, please email slur@gw.govt.nz with the property address and the Site Number (SN/**/***/02) shown on the map search tool.