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Taonga Māori

Māori land

Overview and key terms

The Māori Land Court (Te Kooti Whenua Māori) and the Māori Appellate Court (Te Kooti Pīra Māori) have jurisdiction to deal with Māori land matters in Aotearoa New Zealand, including the status, ownership, management and use of Māori land. They also have jurisdiction over Māori fisheries claims. This chapter is a helpful starting point for anyone dealing with kaupapa Māori legal issues.

How Māori land law is different from other land law

Although it’s subject to many of the same laws as other land in Aotearoa, Māori land is also different in some key ways. Under Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993 (the Māori Land Act), there are significant restrictions on transferring ownership of the land, whether by succession on the death of an owner or through the selling or gifting of the land. The Act favours ownership of Māori land staying with the owners’ whānau, hapū and descendants.

The Māori Land Court enforces those restrictions. Most dealings with Māori land are scrutinised by the court and require a court order. For example, the sale of Māori land is not complete until the Court issues an order confirming that the sale may go ahead.

Because most Māori land has multiple owners, Te Ture Whenua Māori Act also provides various management structures and other methods that the owners can use to make decisions about the land more effectively – for example, by forming themselves into an incorporation or by putting the land under the care of trustees.

Next Section | The main legislation

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Māori land

Where to go for more support

Community Law

www.communitylaw.org.nz

Your local Community Law Centre can provide free initial legal advice and can help you apply to the Māori Land Court.

Ngāi Tahu Māori Law Centre

www.ngaitahulaw.org.nz

The Ngāi Tahu Māori Law Centre assists all Ngāi Tahu and all Māori living within the Ngāi Tahu rohe. They practise in Māori land law and in advocacy focused on kaupapa Māori.

Māori Land Court

www.justice.govt.nz/courts/maori-land-court

Find information about the Māori Land Court online.

Forms

www.maorilandcourt.govt.nz/apply/

Download application forms online.

Information booklets

www.maorilandcourt.govt.nz/about-mlc/publications

Download or view information booklets online.

National Pānui

www.maorilandcourt.govt.nz/about-mlc/publications/national-panui/#national-panui

View the National Pānui online or subscribe online.

Māori Land Online

www.maorilandonline.govt.nz

Search for Māori land interests online.

Te Tumu Paeroa: Office of the Māori Trustee

www.tetumupaeroa.co.nz

Search online for funds owing to beneficial owners.

Inland Revenue Department, Kaitakawaenga Māori service

www.ird.govt.nz/contactus/kaitakawaenga-maori

This service offers one-on-one tax advice; tax training or seminars; tax agencies at resource centres or marae; and school visits. This service will attend hui or come to you and provide other advice about your tax obligations.

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