In August 2020, the Government passed targeted changes to Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993 to simplify the legal processes for owning, occupying and using Māori land. What has changed? Succession is the legal transfer of interests or shares in Māori land from a person who has passed away to the people who are legally entitled to own those interests.
certify that the person(s) named and described in the Schedule attached to this document are entitled to succeed to the beneficial interests in the land described in that Schedule, and that each person is to receive the shares or proportion of shares set out opposite the name of that person.
Documents/Forms/MLC-Form-20-Certificate-by-administrator.pdf (263 kb)
(c) To buy any land or interest in land, shares or assets whatsoever whether by way of lease, purchase, exchange or otherwise and to acquire, sell, hire or otherwise deal in vehicles, shares, plant, chattels or equipment.
Documents/Guides-Templates-Factsheets/Ahu-Whenua-Trust-Order-Template-18082025.pdf (444 kb)
E te rangatira, tēnā koe. The Māori Land Court warmly invites you once again to share your thoughts on the service you’ve received from us - this time, with a focus on your experience using Pātaka Whenua.
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 (194 kb)
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)
One title would represent the totality of the shares currently held by the Seymour whanau (32.21252 shares) to be vested in (Phillip Douglas Seymour, Pauline Ruth McKay, Selwyn Gerald Martin Seymour, Edward James Seymour, and Caroline Ngawaiata Rowena Power) as to their respective shares, with the other title vested in the owners, being the whanāu of Tame Horomona Rehe.
This class of records also includes information related to making changes to land title through the sale of Māori land, transfer of shares in Māori land between owners or to new shareholders, alienation of Māori land by lease or license, including the licensing of timber, flax and mineral rights.
Documents/Guides-Templates-Factsheets/MLC-2017-03-03-RDS-Report.pdf (1.1 mb)
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)
If an owner of Māori freehold land in multiple ownership has paid more than their share of water services changes, they can apply to the Māori Land Court for a “charging order” to recover the excess amount paid.
