The former Chief Judge, Judge Isaac, retired from his role on 30 April, and accordingly Deputy Chief Judge Fox and Deputy Chairperson Judge Reeves have taken up the roles of Acting Chief Judge and Acting Chairperson respectively.
That is, there is no longer a decision-making role for the mediators. What follows is a simple overview of the mediation process together with some observations.
That is, there is no longer a decision-making role for the
mediators.
What follows is a simple overview of the mediation process together with some observations.
The name of the proceedings and the case number.
2. Your role in the proceedings (e.g. applicant, respondent, legal representative for
the applicant).
3.
Since the passing of Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993, our role is to:
promote the retention of Māori land in the hands of its owners, whānau and hapū
facilitate the occupation, development and use of Māori land
ensure that decisions made about Māori land are fair and balanced taking into account the needs of all the owners and their beneficiaries.
In addition, while it remains important that kanohi-ki-te-kanohi justice is conducted in our courthouses, which play an important role as the local face of justice for our communities, we should endeavour to use alternative measures such as telephone conferencing, zoom and or AVL if this is more suitable to Māori land owners and ultimately assists Māori land owners’ access to justice.
This speech will be about my role as a Judge of the Māori Land Court. However, because I became a Judge only a matter of weeks ago, I do not yet have many stories to share with you about my new job.
Today, many Māori landowners continue to act as collective kaitiaki of their whenua, to honour and protect their land as taonga-tuku-iho. Our role as Te Kooti Whenua Māori is to facilitate and promote the retention and use of Māori land, and support whānau to occupy, develop and use their whenua.
