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.
