In his classic book Māori Land Tenure (1977) Sir Hugh Kawharu wrote that the system of Māori land tenure created by the Native Lands Act of 1865 was an ‘engine of destruction for any tribe’s tenure of land, anywhere’ (p 15).
Documents/Guides-Templates-Factsheets/MLC-150-years-of-the-Maori-Land-Court.pdf (11 mb)
After 15 or so years as a corporate lawyer, you can imagine my surprise to have the opportunity to join the Māori Land Court.
Therefore in this article I provide my evaluation of the report as a Judge of the Māori Land Court.
Documents/Judges-corner-articles/MLC-2014-Jun-Judges-Corner-Ambler-J.pdf (191 kb)
Land interests remained in the name of my grandfather and my great-grandmother.
MĀORI LAND COURT CONTACT DETAILS This application may be lodged with the Registrar at any office of the Māori Land Court.
If the successors named in a will are not children or their issue or qualify as next of kin of the testator an applicant needs to satisfy the Court that they qualify to succeed. The Court office can assist you as to what the qualifications are to succeed.
Documents/Forms/MLC-Form-22-Application-for-succession2F.pdf (371 kb)
Currently, the land is held in trust until the owners can receive the land.
In accordance with tikanga Māori there is no distinction to be drawn between whenua (land) that is dry and land that is covered by the sea.
Documents/Judges-corner-articles/JWI-ACPECT-Presentation-2022.pdf (540 kb)
Use this form to apply to the Court for an order vesting part or all of any Māori Land or General Land owned by Māori in an owner or a person entitled to succeed to an owner for the purpose of a house site or to confirm an existing house site (including a house that has already been built and is located on the land).
If the trustees acquire further land or other assets for the purposes of the trust, that land becomes trust land, and the other assets become trust property.
Documents/Guides-Templates-Factsheets/Ahu-Whenua-Trust-Order-Template-18082025.pdf (444 kb)
