The Act now clarifies that Māori Land Court judges will follow the tikanga of the hapū or iwi associated with the land being succeeded to when deciding whether whāngai can succeed to a land interest.
Documents/Guides-Templates-Factsheets/Factsheet-Succession-for-whangai-web-version.pdf (172 kb)
For more information, please contact your local Mäori Land Court office. Individual districts may mail out separate Pänui where 14 clear days notice is not provided in the National Pänui / Te Pänui ä Motu.
This form may be used by the executor(s)/administrator(s) of an estate to certify those persons entitled to the Māori freehold land interests held by the estate, and/or in the case of a deceased Māori, any General Land intrests.
Documents/Forms/MLC-Form-20-Certificate-by-administrator.pdf (263 kb)
You can download and edit these PDF forms for the Māori Land Court and the Māori Appellate Court applications and email or mail them to us.
I stress that a whānau trust is designed to manage specified shares in Māori land, it facilitates the bringing together of interests for the benefit of descendants and most importantly is a valuable tool to prevent ongoing fragmentation or, more correctly, fractionalisation of shares.
For more information, please contact your local Māori Land Court office. Individual districts may mail out separate Pānui where 14 clear days notice is not provided in the National Pānui / Te Pānui ā-Motu.
Documents/Panui/Maori-Land-Court-National-Panui-October-2025.pdf (2.8 mb)
Historically, trust applications were heard by a Māori Land Court judge. Now, if your application is assessed to be ‘simple and uncontested’, then it can be decided by a Māori Land Court registrar without a court sitting (unless you request to be heard by a judge in a court sitting).
Documents/Guides-Templates-Factsheets/Factsheet-Legislative-changes-affecting-trusts.pdf (303 kb)
If you are selling your land, a valuation is required to ensure the purchase price is fair, unless you’re selling your land to a whānau member.
From 6 February 2021 The Māori Land Court can grant an occupation order to a beneficiary of a whānau trust.
For more information, please contact your local Mäori Land Court office. Individual districts may mail out separate Pänui where 14 clear days notice is not provided in the National Pänui / Te Pänui ä Motu.
Documents/Panui/0305124-Ministry-of-Justice_Panui-April-2024.pdf (1.7 mb)
