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)
Māori Land Court Rules 2011 Read the Māori Land Court Rules 2011.
In contrast new ahu whenua trusts for the management of Māori freehold land are regularly set up through the Māori Land Court.
1 māorilandcourt.co.nz A partition divides an existing Māori land block into new, separate blocks. Partition applications are covered under Part 14 of Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993 (sections 285-306) and Part 13 of the Māori Land Court Rules 2011.
How-do-I-user-guides/How-to-apply-for-Partition-of-Maori-freehold-land.pdf (490 kb)
Historically, most succession applications were heard by a Māori Land Court judge. Now, if your succession 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).
All applications to the Māori Land Court and Māori Appellate Court require a fee to be paid before they can be lodged with the Court.
Documents/Forms/MLC-Document-A1-request-remittal.pdf (214 kb)
All applications should be lodged with the Registrar in the District in which some of all of the land is located Fee: $24.00 If there is insufficient room on the form to provide the required infomation you should continue your application on a separate sheet of paper MĀORI LAND COURT CONTACT DETAILS This application mat be lodged with the Registrar at your local Māori Land Court office Office use: Application: ACCEPTED / REFUSED Da...
Page 2 For more information visit www.maorilandcourt.govt.nz MLC 04/26 - 4A Te Kooti Whenua Māori o Aotearoa The Māori Land Court of New Zealand Please select the name of the Māori Land Court district in which some or all of the lands or the subject matter of the application is located.
Documents/Forms/MLC-Form-4A-Application-for-Mediation.pdf (534 kb)
More information: Māori Land Court Amendment Rules 2026 Māori Land Court Rules 2011
That written notice must be filed in the Māori Land Court not later than 4pm, Friday 23rd January 2026.
Documents/Landowner-notices/1-v2.-Takitimu-Notice-to-PCA.pdf (96 kb)
