Former Chief Māori Land Court Judge, who then became a Justice of the High Court, ET Durie provided the following analyses of the nature of Māori rights to land; Maori see themselves not as masters of the environment but as members of it.
Documents/Judges-corner-articles/JWI-ACPECT-Presentation-2022.pdf (540 kb)
You will also need to provide: a copy of their death certificate or other evidence of death an original or certified copy of the will written confirmation from any spouse or partner who wishes to surrender a lifetime right (if applicable) consents agreeing to include succession by whāngai (if applicable) a completed Whānau Trust application, draft trust order, written consent from trustees, and minutes from the hui agreeing to constitute a Whānau Trust
SECTION APPLICANT SUBJECT SP7 3:00 PM AP-20250000011058 133/93 Pamela Seymour He panonitanga ki te tūnga taitara o Otonga 1E2 mai i te whenua atu ki te whenua Māori Change the status of Otonga 1E2 from General land to Māori freehold land.
Documents/Panui/14-v2.-Te-Waipounamu-15-October-2025.pdf (145 kb)
APPLICATIONS Te Kooti Whenua Māori – Māori Land Court For more information, go to maorilandcourt.govt.nz Te Kooti Whenua Māori – Māori Land Court (MLC) is the New Zealand Court that hears matters relating to Māori land.
Documents/Guides-Templates-Factsheets/MOJ0217.6E-OCT21-Applications.pdf (335 kb)
More information For more information about Māori Land Trusts please write to, phone, fax, email, or visit a Māori Land Court office.
Documents/Guides-Templates-Factsheets/MLC-applications-english.pdf (327 kb)
The status of the land will continue to be Māori land unless and until the Māori Land Court makes an order changing the status of the land. 3.
Documents/Guides-Templates-Factsheets/MOJ0217.3E-OCT21-Transferring-Maori-Land-Shares.pdf (78 kb)
MĀORI RESERVATIONS Te Kooti Whenua Māori – Māori Land Court For more information, go to maorilandcourt.govt.nz Te Kooti Whenua Māori – Māori Land Court (MLC) is the New Zealand Court that hears matters relating to Māori land.
Documents/Guides-Templates-Factsheets/MOJ0217.4E-OCT21-Maori-Reservations.pdf (348 kb)
The changes affect all trusts, including Māori land trusts created through the Māori Land Court (such as ahu whenua, kaitiaki, and whānau trusts) and existing trusts established before the law came into force.
Documents/Guides-Templates-Factsheets/Factsheet-for-landowners-Trustee-Act.pdf (68 kb)
The process for constituting an ahu whenua or whenua tōpū trust is similar. Both trust types are land management trusts involving one or more Māori freehold land blocks (and in some cases, general land owned by Māori).
How-do-I-user-guides/How-to-constitute-an-ahu-whenua-trust-or-whenua-topu-trust.pdf (539 kb)
If those entitled to succeed do wish to vest the deceased’s interests in a whānau trust, please complete and attach to this application form 23 of the Māori Land Court Rules 2011.
Documents/Forms/MLC-Form-22-Application-for-succession2F.pdf (216 kb)
