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Status of Māori land

Types of Māori land

Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993, s 4 (definition of “Māori land”), s 129

There are two types of “Māori land” – namely, Māori freehold land and Māori customary land. However, a third category of land – General land owned by Māori – is also subject to some of the provisions of Te Ture Whenua Māori Act.

Māori freehold land

This is land where Māori customary interests have been converted to freehold title by the Māori Land Court or its predecessors by a freehold order. This land has therefore never been out of Māori ownership. Most Māori freehold land titles were created by the Land Courts in the 19th and early 20th centuries as part of a drive to convert communal ownership to individual title. Māori freehold land continues to be Māori land until the Māori Land Court changes its status.

Today almost all Māori land is Māori freehold land. There are about 1.47 million hectares of Māori freehold land, which makes up roughly five percent of all land in Aotearoa.

Māori customary land

This is land that is held by Māori in accordance with tikanga Māori and that was never converted to Māori freehold land by the Land Courts, so that Māori have the same title to it as they had in 1840. Very little Māori customary land exists today and therefore in practical terms “Māori land” primarily means Māori freehold land. In 2020 there were only 38 blocks of Māori customary land, totalling 1204 hectares.

General land owned by Māori

“General land” refers to ordinary privately owned freehold land, and the category “General land owned by Māori” means General land that is now beneficially owned either by one Māori person or by a group of people the majority of whom are Māori.

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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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