Land Reform (Amendment) Act 2013 (No. 31 of 2013). Country/Territory Vanuatu Document type Legislation Date 2013 Source FAO, FAOLEX Subject Land & soil, Water, Wild species & ecosystems Keyword Land reform Lease Legal proceedings/administrative proceedings Registration Dispute settlement Institution Traditional rights/customary rights Community management Subdivision of land Offences/penalties Water conservation zone Sustainable development Protected area Geographical area Asia and the Pacific, Least Developed Countries, Melanesia, Oceania, Small Island Developing States, South Pacific Abstract This Act amends the Land Reform Act by addition of provisions (replacing sections 6,7 and 8) concerning, among other things; the certification of negotiator of land rights or land disputes of custom land owners; the identification of custom owners or disputing groups by the National Coordinator; consultation with the custom owners; procedures of the negotiation process including a custom owners’ consultation report; consent to a negotiated lease; notification of intention to register lease instrument; appointment of the Land Ombudsman; lodging of complaints with the Land Ombudsman; functions and investigative powers of the Land Ombudsman; application for a rural subdivision or change of lease type; Ministerial consent to a rural subdivision or change of lease type; establishment of the Land Management Planning Committee. An agreement, lease or any other transaction relating to custom land is void and of no legal effect unless it has been: (a) approved by the Minister in accordance with the process specified in section 6; and (b) registered in the Land Records Office. Full text English Website mol.gov.vu References - Legislation Amends Land Reform Act (Cap. 123). Legislation | Vanuatu | 1980 (2006) Keyword: Land reform, Land tenure, Lease, Institution, Transfer, Ownership, Dispute settlement Source: FAO, FAOLEX