Maori
Land Court
Te Kooti Whenua
The Maori Land Court (Te Kooti Whenua Maori) is the New Zealand court that hears
matters relating to Maori land. About 1.3 million hectares in New Zealand is designated as
Maori freehold land, just under five percent of the total 26.4 million hectares in the
country.
The special bond between Maori people and land is recognised by the Maori Land Court,
and the records held by this Court form an invaluable part of the whakapapa of all Maori.
The Court is the only Maori court and it is unique in the way it operates. This unique
approach is summarised in Parliament's directive to the Court, as contained in section
2(2) of Te Ture Whenua Maori Act 1993:
"…it is the intention of Parliament that powers, duties, and
discretions conferred by this Act shall be exercised, as far as possible, in a manner that
facilitates and promotes the retention, use, development and control of Maori land as
taonga tuku iho by Maori owners, their whanau, their hapu, and their descendants."
Issues relating to multiple ownership of land and the law relating to
succession of ownership mean Maori land transactions can be complex. At the Maori Land
Court, these transactions are dealt with in a traditional and appropriate manner. For
example, court sittings may be conducted in te reo Maori (the Maori language) and may
begin and end with a karakia (prayer).
The Ministry of Justice administers the Maori Land Court although the Minister of Maori Affairs
deals with legislative matters.
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