During the holiday period, Māori Land Court offices will be closed from 3pm, Wednesday 24 December 2025 and will reopen 10am, Monday 5 January 2026.
A national service for only urgent injunction applications is available Monday 29, Tuesday 30 and Wednesday 31 December. More details can be found here.
Due to limited access to the building, the Auckland Information Office is available by appointment only. Please contact us by email at mlctamakimakaurau@justice.govt.nz
In April 2025, Claire Stirling-Hawkins (Te
Whānau-ā-Apanui, Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Kauwhata,
Ngāti Raukawa ki Te Tonga, Ngāi Tahu me Kāti
Mamoe), supported by her whānau, friends, and
kaimahi from Te Rāwhiti, stepped into the Pae
Ārahi o Te Rito role, bringing her leadership
strengths and a shared purpose and vision for Te
Rito to the District.
Waiariki
PĀNUI
He pānuitanga tēnei kia mōhiotia ai ka tū Te Kooti
Whenua Māori ki te whakawā, ki te uiui hoki, i ngā
tikanga o ngā tono a muri ake - Nau mai, haere mai
A Special Sitting
At Ōpōtiki
Māori Land Court, 1143 Haupapa
Street, Hauora House, Rotorua
Wednesday 6 September 2023
Judge T M Wara Presiding
PANUI NO: TIME: APPLICATION NO: SECTION: APPLICANT: SUBJECT:
SSep3/1 11:00 AM AP-20230000021566 113/93,
118/93
Thompson
Quinton Tapsell
William B...
In recognition of the principles of the Act that land is taonga
tuku iho, of special significance, and to promote the retention
of the land in the hands of its owners and their whānau and
hapū, the judges usually require that an owner wishing to gift
or sell an interest first consult with their children and whānau.
However, the trustees must have the power to grant
licences to occupy in their trust order. The trust order may
also limit who may apply and impose any conditions.
The changes affect all trusts,
including Māori land trusts created through the Māori Land Court
(such as ahu whenua, kaitiaki, and whānautrusts) and existing
trusts established before the law came into force.
For example, an
application for succession will require a
death certificate, any grant of administration
(probate 2 or letters of administration 3) or the
original will, minutes of a whānau meeting if
a whānautrust is required and consents of
the proposed trustees.
From its beginnings
as a mechanism that enabled the acquisition by
Pākehā of huge tracts of Māori land, the Court
has continued to evolve to the present day when
it enables and assists with the retention and
utilisation of Māori land by its owners, whānau
and hapū.
The Māori Land Court has been here for 150 years
and if Māori have their way, it is here to stay.