Historically, trust applications were heard by a Māori Land Court judge. Now, if your application is assessed to be ‘simple and uncontested’, then it can be decided by a Māori Land Court registrar without a court sitting (unless you request to be heard by a judge in a court sitting).
Documents/Guides-Templates-Factsheets/Factsheet-Legislative-changes-affecting-trusts.pdf (303 kb)
APPLICATIONS Te Kooti Whenua Māori – Māori Land Court For more information, go to maorilandcourt.govt.nz Te Kooti Whenua Māori – Māori Land Court (MLC) is the New Zealand Court that hears matters relating to Māori land.
Documents/Guides-Templates-Factsheets/MOJ0217.6E-OCT21-Applications.pdf (335 kb)
The Māori Land Court has had a controversial history.
Documents/Guides-Templates-Factsheets/MLC-150-years-of-the-Maori-Land-Court.pdf (11 mb)
The Māori Land Court (formerly the Native Land Court) has existed since 1865 and the Māori Appellate Court (formerly the Native Appellate Court) since 1894.
Documents/Guides-Templates-Factsheets/MLC-2017-03-03-RDS-Report.pdf (1.1 mb)
Where the title to the land is held by a Māori land trust or a Māori Incorporation, the mortgage has to be sent to the Māori Land Court’s Registrar for noting (ss 150A and 150B of the Act).
The Māori Land Court ("Court") has constituted a whānau trust for the purposes set out in this Trust Order (“Order”).
Judges Savage and Harvey On 24 February 2023, the Māori Land Court held a special sitting in Waiariki to recognise the retirement of his Honour Judge Patrick Savage from the Māori Land Court, and the departure of the Honourable Justice Dr Layne Harvey from the Māori Land Court to the High Court bench.
Documents/Articles/Maori-Land-Court-Annual-Report-Matariki-2022-Matariki-2023.pdf (11 mb)
Ngā whakataunga a te Kooti Whenua Māori Māori Land Court judgments Find judgments of the Māori Land Court in the Ministry of Justice decision finder.
The special bond between Māori people and the land is recognised by the Māori Land Court, and the records held by this Court form an invaluable part of the whakapapa of all Māori.
Documents/Guides-Templates-Factsheets/MLC-applications-english.pdf (327 kb)
Te Puna Manawa Whenua is written by Māori Land Court judges. It is overseen by a judicial editing komiti, comprised of Māori Land Court judges, supported by legal research counsel from the Māori Land Court.
