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We work with various other departments and agencies to support Māori landowners to connect with and realise their aspirations for their whenua.

  • The Māori Land Court is a business unit within the Ministry of Justice. The Ministry provides all necessary operational support to New Zealand courts, including human and financial resources, property, information technology, policy, and any other matter that assists the court in administering justice.

    Visit the Ministry of Justice website 

  • Te Puni Kōkiri is the Government’s principal policy advisor of Māori wellbeing and development. They administer Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993, the governing legislation for Māori land, and provide the Whenua Māori Service to support Māori landowners to explore their aspirations and unlock the potential of their whenua.

    Whenua Māori Service
    The Whenua Māori Service can assist Māori landowners with access to information about their whenua, to explore their aspirations, to plan for whenua development, and can broker and facilitate relationships with other organisations and agencies that will assist them with their plans. It does this through:

    • dedicated regional advisors across Aotearoa who provide Māori landowners with on the ground support and guidance on a range of whenua-related matters
    • a range of tools and resources including its website tupu.nz which includes maps, land use data, downloadable factsheets, and guides for developing business plans or strategies to empower Māori landowner decision making and explore ways to better connect with, care for and develop their whenua
    • Identifying funding ops including the Te Puni Kōkiri Whenua Māori Fund which assists Māori landowners and trustees to explore the potential of their whenua and to investigate the means of lifting productivity, either through improving and growing existing operations, diversification, or preparing for new ventures.  It can support a range of activities including governance and management capability, strategic planning, land use planning, feasibility and developing commercial business cases. 

    Visit the Te Puni Kōkiri website 

  • The Māori Trustee is appointed, in many cases, to act as a responsible trustee to manage Māori freehold land and other assets on behalf of the beneficial owners.  In some cases, the Māori Trustee can also be appointed as an agent to work on specific matters with, or on behalf of, trusts and trustees.

    Te Tumu Paeroa is the organisation that support the Māori Trustee to carry out statutory and other legal duties, responsibilities and functions. Currently, the Māori Trustee administers as trustee or agent approximately 1,800 Māori Land Trusts and other Māori entities. This is about one third of all Māori Land Trusts.

    Where the Māori Trustee has been appointed as responsible trustee of a Māori Land Trust, we provide a range of services that support the owners and trustees, including:

    • Administer trusts in accordance with the trust order
    • Convene and facilitate owner hui, also known as meetings of owners
    • Provide reports and information regarding the administration of the trust and the whenua to advisory trustees and owners
    • Identify and undertake work to protect and enhance the whenua 
    • Manage and distribute trust funds to owners consistent with the trust order
    • Lease property on behalf of the trust
    • Work with owners interested in taking over the administration of their whenua.

    Visit the Te Tumu Paeroa website 

  • Toitū Te Whenua holds land and location-based information covering all of New Zealand.

    We work closely with Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) to ensure that information about Māori land is accurately recorded and maintained as part of the New Zealand property title and survey system. 

    Visit the Te Toitū Whenua website 

  • There are various funding grants managed by the Department of Internal Affairs that Māori land trusts may be eligible for.  These can range from community and social initiatives, marae, heritage, environment activities, health research and individuals with disabilities.

    For more information on funding opportunities, visit www.communitymatters.govt.nz

    Visit the Te Tari Taiwhenua website 

  • The Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment (MBIE) plays a central role in shaping and delivering a strong New Zealand economy from business, economic development, employment and skills, energy and natural resources, immigration and tourism and science and technology.

    If any of these topics are relevant to the plan you and your whānau have to achieve wellbeing through whenua, you may want to make contact with them.

    Visit the Hīkina Whakatutuki website

  • At some stage of your whenua journey, you will need to establish and maintain a relationship with the local council in your area and where your land is situated.

    Visit the Local Councils website 

  • The Waitangi Tribunal is an independent commission of inquiry. It makes recommendations on claims brought by Māori relating to legislation, policies, actions, or omissions of the Crown that are alleged to breach the promises made in the Treaty of Waitangi.

    Visit the Te Rōpū Whakamana i te Tiriti o Waitangi website 

  • Herenga ā Nuku Aotearoa, the Outdoor Access Commission, is the Crown agency protecting and enhancing public access to the outdoors for everyone in New Zealand — walkers, mountain bikers, anglers, horse riders, landholders, trail runners and more.

    Herenga ā Nuku has a small team in Wellington and a network of regional field advisors. It is governed by an independent board.

    Visit the Herenga ā Nuku website