The Local Government (Water Services) Act 2025 introduces new provisions that allow owners of Māori land and water service providers to appeal to the Māori Land Court over decisions about access to Māori land for water infrastructure.
Good governance is the key From the experiences of Māori Land Court Judges, good governance is the key to effective utilisation of Māori land held in multiple ownership.
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.
The Act also allows for appeals to the Māori Appellate Court in relation to decisions of the Māori Land Court around access to Māori land for water infrastructure.
The Māori Land Court is conducting an inquiry to establish the successors to SILNA lands pursuant to Section 29, Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993 in accordance with an application filled by the Minister of Māori Affairs, currently under application A20180009373.
Documents/SILNA/S113-29-93-Appln-to-Determine-Successors-for-SILNA-Lands-Hawea-Wanaka.pdf (407 kb)
The Māori Land Court moved to a new database, Pātaka Whenua, in late May 2023 replacing the Māori Land Information System (MLIS).
This form may be used to apply to the Court to confirm one or more resolutions passed by owners in Māori Freehold Land or General Land owned by Māori who together are members of the same family and who have taken the opportunity to meet together following a family gathering (such as tangi, wedding or reunion).
Documents/Forms/MLC-Form-34-Confirmation-family-gathering.pdf (158 kb)
SIGNATURE OF APPLICANT Dated: / / For more information visit www.māorilandcourt.govt.nz MĀORI LAND COURT CONTACT DETAILS This application may be lodged with the Registrar at any office of the Māori Land Court.
Use this form to apply to the Court for a partition of Māori Land or the combined partition of Māori and General Land to separate out owner’s shares into new land titles.
Documents/Forms/MLC-Form-39-Application-for-a-partition.pdf (811 kb)
February 2010 Cover photograph by Adrian Heke The Māori Land Court (Te Kooti Whenua Māori) is the New Zealand court that hears matters relating to Māori land.
Documents/Guides-Templates-Factsheets/MLC-applications-english.pdf (327 kb)
