For many years Māori women were unrepresented in the professions, including the legal profession, and it has not been until the last couple of decades that Māori women lawyers have been appointed to the bench. Currently Aotearoa New Zealand has 11 women judges of Māori ancestry who serve on the High Court, District Court and Māori Land Court.
Guides to help make an enquiry or application Te tuku tono Submitting an application Read the Submitting an application guide to learn how to make an application in Pātaka Whenua.
Once an order is granted by the Court, the trust continues until the landowners, beneficiaries, trustees, and the Court agree to end it.
A person is unlikely to be appointed by the Court as a trustee if: You are under 18 years old, or if have been: declared bankrupt or you are a bankrupt or a director of a company that is being shut down because of bankruptcy subject to a No Asset Procedure administration by the official assignee convicted of a crime involving dishonesty or fraud removed from a trust or incorporation by us or any other court for misconduct in the management of a trust or incorporation,...
The Honourable Willie Jackson, Minister for Māori Development made a formal announcement on 22 March 2023: New appointment to Māori Land Court bench | Beehive.govt.nz My congratulations, and congratulations on behalf of the Māori Land Court, to Judge Thomas.
Steve has held multiple roles within the Court, including as a case manager, team leader, district manager, Principal Liaison Officer and Service Manager, before being appointed as the Chief Registrar of the Māori Land Court in February 2021.
They stepped into the acting leadership of the Court and Tribunal from 1 May 2023 and will do so until a new Chief Judge is sworn in and a new Chairperson appointed.
Whakamanatanga wira Probate Probate is where the High Court confirms a will's contents and appoints the person(s) to administer it.
If you have further questions, contact a Māori Land Court office. For office contact details, go to www.maorilandcourt.govt.nz/contact-us.
Documents/Guides-Templates-Factsheets/Factsheet-for-landowners-Trustee-Act.pdf (68 kb)
It is rarely the case that the Māori Land Court judges do not appoint people into these positions where selected by owners.
