Pātaka Whenua, the Māori Land Court’s new online portal, launched in June 2023. In Pātaka Whenua, landowners can find information about their whenua, search the court record, and apply to the court directly online.
By creating a free, culturally appropriate and safe process
outside of a court sitting, landowners and other Court users
can kōrero and wānanga about the dispute privately and
come up with their own workable solutions.
The period covered has been one of change for the Court, with the introduction of the new Pātaka Whenua system to support Court kaimahi, judges and landowners. As the report discusses, this has been a difficult process and has led to delays that have affected landowners and other Court users.
This practice note has been issued as a guide to assist landowners, lawyers and the
banking sector with lending against Māori freehold land (“whenua Māori”).
Māori trustees and committee of management members are responsible for caring for and managing whenua on behalf of landowners (beneficial owners and beneficiaries). Landowners nominate trustees and elect committee of management members who are then confirmed and appointed by a judge or registrar.
