Compliance guidelines for Māori land transactions with Land Information New Zealand
Landowners and legal advisers acting in conveyancing transactions affecting Māori freehold land have a clear responsibility to ensure the compliance requirements under Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993 are properly addressed.
Most transactions affecting Māori freehold land require some form of confirmation (either from the Māori Land Court itself or via the Registrar of the Court) or noting in accordance with Part 8 of Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993 Act.
Land Information New Zealand is responsible through the Registrar-General of Land for policing compliance when land title transactions are presented for registration. Section 126 Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993 prohibits registration without the requisite confirmation.
Land Information New Zealand and the Māori Land Court have jointly issued a comprehensive set of guidelines which outline the compliance requirements for the various types of transactions that may be registered in respect of Māori land:
