Home | Browse Topics | Taonga Māori | Māori land | Combining separate landholdings: Amalgamation and aggregation orders

Taonga Māori

Partitions (subdivisions) and other title improvements

Combining separate landholdings: Amalgamation and aggregation orders

An amalgamation or aggregation order can be made for Māori freehold land, Māori customary land or General land owned by Māori (see: “Status of Māori land”).

Amalgamation: Creating a single title

Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993, s 307

The Māori Land Court can make an amalgamation order placing two or more areas of land under a new combined title if the court is satisfied that the land can be more conveniently worked or dealt with in common ownership under one title. The order cancels the original separate titles.

It is important to note that an amalgamation order will affect how the rights and responsibilities arising from a lease, a mortgage or anything similar are divided between the owners of the now single block. The status of the land can also be affected where the land is not all in the same status.

Aggregation: Common ownership of separate titles

Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993, s 308

If the Māori Land Court is satisfied that two or more areas of land could be more conveniently worked or dealt with if they were held in common ownership, but that there’s no reason to cancel the existing titles, it can make an aggregation order giving ownership of the areas of land to all the owners together (that is, the owners in “aggregate”). An aggregation order can be cancelled which will revert ownership of the blocks to how it was prior to the order being made.

Next Section | Rates and Māori land

Did this answer your question?

Māori land

Where to go for more support

Community Law

Your local Community Law Centre can provide you with free initial legal advice.

Find your local Community Law Centre online:
www.communitylaw.org.nz/our-law-centres

Māori Land Court

See the Māori Land Court website for application forms and information about Māori Land and the court’s role and processes.

Website: www.maorilandcourt.govt.nz
Download application forms online: www.maorilandcourt.govt.nz/our-application-process/come-in-apply-to-the-court/application-forms
Download information booklets online: www.maorilandcourt.govt.nz/about-mlc/publications
View the National Pānui online or subscribe online: www.maorilandcourt.govt.nz/national-panui

Ngāi Tahu Māori Law Centre

The Ngāi Tahu Māori Law Centre assists all Ngāi Tahu and all Māori living within the Ngāi Tahu rohe on Māori land law issues.

Website: www.ngaitahulaw.org.nz
Email: info@ngaitahulaw.org.nz
Phone: 0800 626 745

Pātaka Whenua

Pātaka Whenua is the new online customer portal that replaced Māori Land Online. This customer portal gives you the ability to submit an enquiry, access Māori land information and file a Court application.

Website:  www.customer.service.maorilandcourt.govt.nz
View the user guides on Pātaka Whenua online: www.māorilandcourt.govt.nz/contact-us/pātaka-whenua-our-new-online-portal

In the future you will be able to search for documents including Minutes and Orders. Until this is available online, you can access this information by emailing mlctewaharoa@justice.govt.nz or visiting your local Māori Land Court office.

Te Tumu Paeroa: Office of the Māori Trustee

Te Tumu Paeroa provide professional trustee services where the Māori Trustee has been appointed a role on a Māori Land Trust.

Website: www.tetumupaeroa.co.nz
Email: contact@tetumupaeroa.co.nz
Phone: 0800 943 682

Inland Revenue Department, Kaitakawaenga Māori service

Kaitakawaenga Māori provides support to any Māori individual or business wanting tax information, advice or training.

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

Also available as a book

The Community Law Manual

The Manual contains over 1000 pages of easy-to-read legal info and comprehensive answers to common legal questions. From ACC to family law, health & disability, jobs, benefits & flats, Tāonga Māori, immigration and refugee law and much more, the Manual covers just about every area of community and personal life.

Buy The Community Law Manual

Help the manual

We’re a small team that relies on the generosity of all our supporters. You can make a one-off donation or become a supporter by sponsoring the Manual for a community organisation near you. Every contribution helps us to continue updating and improving our legal information, year after year.

Donate Become a Supporter

Find the Answer to your Legal Question

back to top