This trust order is drafted to allow the trustees to purchase land, but not to sell it. That is because most Māori trusts focus on retaining land.
Documents/Guides-Templates-Factsheets/Ahu-Whenua-Trust-Order-Template-18082025.pdf (444 kb)
As for incorporations, the Act provides that every Māori incorporation holds the land and assets “on trust” for the incorporated owners in proportion to their several interests in the land (s 250(4)).
Documents/Judges-corner-articles/MLC-2014-Jun-Judges-Corner-Ambler-J.pdf (191 kb)
Any final terms of trust are subject to confirmation by the Māori Land Court in accordance with sections 214 or 244 of Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993. 5.
Our trust order requires the trust to be reviewed every five years by the Māori Land Court. We tend to hold at least one AGM hui a year.
You can find information about your whenua and other Māori land from a variety of sources.
The court record holds information about current and historic ownership of Māori land, including block and trust information, minutes, and orders.
On that island I see te iwi Māori walking proudly within their own Māori world and over their own land.
Chief Judge Fox (Ngāti Porou, Rongowhakaata, Te Whānau a Apanui) is the 17th Chief Judge of the Māori Land Court, and the first wahine Māori to hold the role.
Documents/Articles/23-07-20-Media-Statement-Chief-Maori-Land-Court-Judge-appointment.pdf (400 kb)
You will also need to be clear what the plan is for building on the land, including who the housing is for. Contact a Māori Land Court offices for further information about building on Māori land.
Trusts can be 'interest based' or 'land based'. Interest based trusts hold interests (or shares in Māori land blocks, while ‘land based’ trusts may manage a Māori land block or blocks on behalf of landowners.
