There are many ways Māori connect with and utilise whenua, depending on the economic, social, and cultural aspirations of the whānau for the whenua. The Māori Land Court, alongside our partner agencies, are here to support you and your whānau throughout your whenua journey.
No matter what type of activity it is, whether it had a law focus, be language-based, an iwi, hapū or whānau initiative, no matter the kaupapa, you have always been there lending an ear to my problems and complaints about how hard everything has been, about how exhausting the lawyer life can be, about the tiresome nature of people generally, about the ins and outs of the Declaration and te Tiriti o Waitangi (yes, I am a true progeny of the North), and despite all of those tedious traits I...
Our key purpose is to promote the retention of Māori land in Māori hands, and to support landowners to use, occupy and develop their whenua for the benefit of all landowners, and their whānau and hapū. As a court of record, we are responsible for the accurate documentation of the succession and management of Māori land.
Chief Judge Fox (Ngāti Porou, Rongowhakaata, Te Whānau a Apanui) is the 17th
Chief Judge of the Māori Land Court, and the first wahine Māori to hold the role.
Chief Judge Fox is a descendent of Ngāti Porou and Rongowhakaata, with ties to Te Whānau a Apanui. She is the fifth judge to be appointed as Chairperson of the Waitangi Tribunal, following Chief Judge Kenneth Gillanders Scott, Tā Justice Taihakurei Durie, Tā Justice Joe Williams and Chief Judge Wilson Isaac.
Ko Kaiwhakawā Matua Fox (nō Ngāti Porou, Rongowhakaata, Te Whānau ā Apanui),
te Kaiwhakawā Matua tekau mā whitu o Te Kooti Whenua Māori, ā, ko ia hoki te
wahine tuatahi ki te whiwhi i tēnei tūranga.
Since the passing of Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993, our role is to:
promote the retention of Māori land in the hands of its owners, whānau and hapū
facilitate the occupation, development and use of Māori land
ensure that decisions made about Māori land are fair and balanced taking into account the needs of all the owners and their beneficiaries.
