Due to limited access to the building, the Auckland Information Office is available by appointment only. Please contact us by email mlctamakimakaurau@justice.govt.nz or phone 09 279 5850 to make an appointment
Developed by judges for judges and published by Te Kura Kaiwhakawā (Institute of Judicial Studies), the bench book offers guidance on what judges may need to know, understand, and do when hearing applications in the Māori Land Court (the Court). Although written for judges, its public release promotes transparency in the justice system, assists Māori landowners and their advisors, and supports educational purposes.
An ownership search can also assist with locating applications that have been linked to an owner.
Accessing Pātaka Whenua
Step 1
In your web browser, visit the Māori Land Court website www.māorilandcourt.govt.nz and click
the green tab in the top right area labelled“Pātaka Whenua – our online portal”.
Pātaka Whenua gives you the ability to search and access Māori land information, submit an enquiry and file a Court application from anywhere at any time. For more information about Pātaka Whenua visit our Pātaka Whenua guidance page .
If you have a current application before the Court, you will need to email your details to MLC.Trustee.Training@justice.govt.nz to ensure you complete the training before your Court hearing.
On this page
The court minute
The court order
Claiming money owed to you The court minute
The court minute documents the kōrero from the court hearing, the information you provided in your application, the research completed by our court staff, and the decision made by the judge or registrar.
Ensure that your device is muted when you join the hearing, as you may join while another application is still being heard. Please wait until your application is announced to unmute yourself, confirm that you’re present, and let the court know if any other people are present with you.
After 18 months of hearings in Rotorua, 15 applications concerning the administration and utilisation of Utuhina No.3H No’s 2 & 3 Subdivision F will shortly be completed.
The judge should ensure that the minute contains sufficient information, without
unnecessary detail, to enable the parties to decide whether to make a recusal
application. It is undesirable for parties to be placed in the position of having to seek
further information from the judge.
One means of exploring a candidate’s ability to comply with s 222 is to require nominees to submit resumes with their application and for the Court to then pose questions to candidates for appointment that might include their knowledge of accounts and financial reporting, the trust order and general trust law principles, farming, forestry, tourism, geothermal power, property investment, equities and communications.
