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.
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)
Awaiting Administrative Action Page 1 of 66 Quarterly Schedule of Outstanding Applications aged over 6 months old held by Māori Land Court or Māori Appellate Court as at 31 May 2023 Produced pursuant to rul 5.11 of the Māori Land Court Rules 2011 A20170007136 6/12/2017 Taraire 1V - Application to the Chief Judge 45/93 Deputy Registrar 1.
In contrast new ahu whenua trusts for the management of Māori freehold land are regularly set up through the Māori Land Court.
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)
Good governance is the key From the experiences of Māori Land Court Judges, good governance is the key to effective utilisation of Māori land held in multiple ownership.
Awaiting Judicial Decision or Direction Page 1 of 50 Quarterly Schedule of Outstanding Applications aged over 6 months old held by Māori Land Court or Māori Appellate Court as at 31 May 2022 Produced pursuant to rul 5.11 of the Māori Land Court Rules 2011 A20170006414 31/10/2017 CJ 2017/35 - Parihaka Papakainga and a trustee order made at 72 Taranaki MB 86 on 25 January 1962 - Application to the Chief Judge 45/93 Rangaiti Mathews 1....
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)
