Resource information
This Act, consisting of 18 Parts and 2 Schedules, establishes composition, duties and reponsibilities of the Maori Land Court, which shall be the same court as that existing under the same name immediately before the commencement of this Act. In addition to the jurisdiction and powers expressly conferred on it by this or any other Act, the Maori Land Court shall have all the powers that are inherent in a court of record (I). It is divided into the following Parts: Maori Land Court (I); The Maori Appellate Court (II); Provisions relating to both courts (III); Administration of estates (IV); General Recording of ownership (V); Status of land (VI); Alienation of Maori land (VII); Duties and powers of court in relation to alienations of Maori freehold land (VIII); Powers of assembled owners (IX); Representation of owners of Maori land (X); Leases (XI); Trusts (XII); Maori incorporations (XIII); Title reconstruction and improvement (XIV); Occupation orders (XV); Surveys of Maori land (XVI); Maori reservations (XVII); Miscellaneous provisions (XVIII).Whereas the Treaty of Waitangi established the special relationship between the Maori people and the Crown: And whereas it is desirable that the spirit of the exchange of kawanatanga for the protection of rangatiratanga embodied in the Treaty of Waitangi be reaffirmed: And whereas it is desirable to recognise that land is a taonga tuku iho of special significance to Maori people and, for that reason, to promote the retention of that land in the hands of its owners, their whanau, and their hapu, and to protect wahi tapu: and to facilitate the occupation, development, and utilisation of that land for the benefit of its owners, their whanau, and their hapu: And whereas it is desirable to maintain a court and to establish mechanisms to assist the Maori people to achieve the implementation of these principles.
