New Zealand Land Measurement Units
Complete guide to metric and traditional land measurement units used in New Zealand for sections, lifestyle blocks, farms, and urban properties. Includes instant conversion calculator.
Official NZ Units
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New Zealand Land Unit Converter
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New Zealand Land Measurement Units
Hectare (ha)
Primary NZ Unit for rural land, farms, lifestyle blocks
Equal to: 10,000 square meters
Common Use: Farm sizes, forestry blocks, vineyard areas
Metric
Official
Square Metre (m²)
Standard metric unit for residential and commercial properties
Equal to: 1m × 1m square
Common Use: House sections, apartments, commercial buildings
Metric
Urban
Acre
Traditional imperial unit still used in NZ
Equal to: 4,047 square meters
Common Use: Older farm titles, lifestyle blocks, historical records
Imperial
Traditional
NZ Land Unit Comparison
| Unit | Square Metres | Hectares | Acres | Common NZ Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard House Section | 600-800 m² | 0.06-0.08 ha | 0.15-0.2 acres | Urban residential |
| Lifestyle Block | 10,000-40,000 m² | 1-4 ha | 2.5-10 acres | Rural-residential |
| Dairy Farm | 400,000+ m² | 40+ ha | 100+ acres | Commercial farming |
| NZ Section (Historical) | 1,000,000 m² | 100 ha | 247 acres | Land subdivision |
| Rugby Field | 7,140 m² | 0.714 ha | 1.76 acres | Size comparison |
New Zealand Land Measurement FAQs
Hectares (ha) are the standard unit for rural land, farms, and lifestyle blocks. Square metres (m²) are used for residential and urban properties. New Zealand officially uses the metric system, but acres are still commonly referenced.
One hectare equals 10,000 square metres. This is a 100m × 100m square. Hectares are the primary unit for measuring farms, forestry blocks, and large rural properties in New Zealand.
Standard house sections in NZ cities range from 600-800 m². In suburban areas, sections are typically 400-600 m². Lifestyle blocks usually start at 1 hectare (10,000 m²) or approximately 2.5 acres.
Multiply hectares by 2.47105 to get acres. For example: 5 hectares × 2.47105 = 12.355 acres. Alternatively, use our converter above for instant calculations between all NZ land units.
A lifestyle block typically ranges from 1 to 4 hectares (2.5 to 10 acres). These are rural-residential properties larger than standard sections but smaller than commercial farms, allowing for animals, orchards, or small-scale farming.
Yes, acres are still commonly used alongside hectares in property listings, especially for rural land and lifestyle blocks. However, all official documents and surveys use metric measurements (hectares and square metres).