Māori Law Review

Court of Appeal - Te Kōti Pīra

Trusts - trustee to account for profits received in breach of duty - Adlam v Savage & Ors [2016] NZCA 454

Māori Land Court - Te Kōti Whenua Māori

Interest in land – proceeds from use of land recovered - interim judgment - Flutey - Papatupu  2A No.2 (2016) 358 Aotea MB 38 (358 AOT 38)

Injunction - Registrar directed to accept application for filing - Ngāti Taimanawaiti Māori Incorporation - Lot 2 DP 29547 (9 Old North Road, Orewa) (2016) 135 Taitokerau MB 20 (135 TTK 20) - Martha Reilly

Injunction - interim injunction application dismissed - sufficient beneficiary support - Simpkin - Petane Marae (2016) 51 Taitokerau MB 70 (51 TTK 70) - Toni Love

Chief Judge's powers - application to amend ahu whenua trust order dismissed - Tito - Mangakahia 2B2 No 2A1A (2016) Chief Judge’s MB 398 (2016 CJ 398) - Toni Love

Ownership of dwelling - licence granted - Owen v Hauiti - Kiwinui A (2016) 57 Tairawhiti MB 70 (57 TRW 70) - Indiana Shewen

Procedure - standing - Taueki v Horowhenua - Horowhenua 11 (Lake) Block (2016) 354 Aotea MB 21 (354 AOT 21) - Emerald UnRuh

Rehearing - share transfers - no grounds - Potaka-Dewes v Kereama - Whakarewarewa 2B (2016) 142 Waiariki MB 281 (142 WAI 281) - Indiana Shewen

Status of land – status remains Māori freehold land – Yeoward - Ngapuna A25 (2016) 144 Waiariki MB 287 (144 WAR 287) - Martha Reilly

Succession - whāngai interests - Cooper - Estate of Reihana Kopa (2016) 131 Taitokerau MB 285 (131 TTK 285)

Succession - whāngai interests - Te Maari - Estate of Eileen Te Ataakua Kingi (2016) 356 Aotea MB 86 (356 AOT 86) - Martha Reilly

Succession - whāngai interests - Retemeyer v Loloa - Estate of Tahuaka Waipouri (2016) 129 Taitokerau MB 288 (129 TTK 288)

Succession - preferred class of alienees - life interest - Delamere-Amoamo - Estate of Tairongo Te Wiremu Amoamo (2016) 139 Waiariki MB 176 (139 WAR 176) - Indiana Shewen

Trusts - partial termination of whānau trust declined - Kokiri v Hori (2016) 36 Te Waipounamu MB 151 (36 TWP 151) - Emerald UnRuh

Trusts - breach - consent orders - responsible trustee to recover losses - Clarke v Gray - Poukawa 9G Trust (2016) 48 Takitimu MB 182 (48 TKT 182) - Indiana Shewen

Trusts – trustee appointment – Allen v Karena - Te Koau A (2016) 51 Takitimu MB 91 (51 TKT 91) - Martha Reilly

Māori Incorporations - share registers - Murray - Parengarenga B3 Residue (2016) 128 Taitokerau MB 54 (128 TTK 54) - Indiana Shewen

2016 Māori Land Court Judgments - index

Legislation - Ngā Whakaturetanga

Te Awa Tupua (Whanganui River Claims Settlement) Bill – the endless quest for justice - Linda Te Aho

Te Ture mō Te Reo Māori 2016 - Māori Language Act 2016 - new directions, old problems - Māmari Stephens

Te Ture Whenua Māori Bill - policy statement and explanatory note - Toni Love

Treaty of Waitangi relationships - Ngā kōrero rangatira

The relationship between the Crown and Māori - an interview with Ivan Kwok - Kirsten Hagan

Print version

Download the Māori Law Review August 2016 (711 KB PDF)

Indigenous Law Speaker Series 2016

Lessons from Ecuador's rights of nature lawsuits - Professor Craig Kauffman will deliver this seminar on 10 August 2016

Sir Edward Taihakurei Durie student essay competition 2016

We welcome entries for the 2016 Sir Edward Taihakurei Durie student essay competition sponsored by the Māori Law Review. The competition is open until 5 p.m. Friday 30 September 2016. For details on the competition and how to enter go here.

Adlam v Savage & Ors

Court of Appeal [2016] NZCA 454

11 May 2016

This case is about a trustee having to account for profits made from self-dealing over geothermal power developments, the subject of her obligations as a trustee. An appeal from the decision of the Māori Appellate Court was allowed. That decision was set aside and the Māori Land Court decision about disgorgement of profits reinstated.

Download Adlam v Savage & Ors (2.6 MB PDF).

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Ngāti Taimanawaiti Māori Incorporation - Lot 2 DP 29547 (9 Old North Road, Orewa)

Māori Land Court (2016) 135 Taitokerau MB 20 (135 TTK 20)

10 August 2016

Applicants seek review of the Registrar's dismissal of application for injunction. Court directs Registrar to accept application for filing.

Download Ngāti Taimanawaiti Māori Incorporation - Lot 2 DP 29547 (9 Old North Road, Orewa) (197 KB PDF).

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Owen v Hauiti - Kiwinui A

Māori Land Court (2016) 57 Tairawhiti MB 70 (57 TRW 70)

15 March 2016

Application seeking determination of the ownership and to grant a life interest in a homestead. No ownership or life interest established. But an irrevocable licence to occupy should be granted.

Download Owen v Hauiti - Kiwinui A (290 KB PDF) here.

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Taueki v Horowhenua - Horowhenua 11 (Lake) Block

Māori Land Court (2016) 354 Aotea MB 21 (354 AOT 21)

3 June 2016

The applicant's standing to seek declaratory and injunctive relief was questioned. His ability to do so was recognised and a teleconference ordered.

Download Taueki v Horowhenua - Horowhenua 11 (Lake) Block (178 KB PDF). read more

Yeoward - Ngapuna A25

Māori Land Court (2016) 144 Waiariki MB 287 (144 WAR 287)

1 August 2016

Application seeking change of status from Māori freehold land to General land in order to facilitate sale dismissed. No evidence that preferred class of alienees were notified of application, nor that land would be better utilised as General land or that its status is an impediment to sale.

Download Yeoward - Ngapuna A25 (194 KB PDF).

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Potaka-Dewes v Kereama - Whakarewarewa 2B

Māori Land Court (2016) 142 Waiariki MB 281 (142 WAI 281)

15 June 2016

Application to rehear two share transfer applications dismissed. Grounds for rehearing not made out. The transfers were a whānau matter even if they might affect numbers voting for trustees of the land.

Download Potaka-Dewes v Kereama - Whakarewarewa 2B  (230 KB PDF). read more

Cooper - Estate of Reihana Kopa

Māori Land Court (2016) 131 Taitokerau MB 285 (131 TTK 285)

3 June 2016

Preliminary decision about an application for whāngai succession to land interests on intestacy. Such succession was not possible under the legislation applying to the period in issue.

Download Cooper - Estate of Reihana Kopa  (224 KB PDF).

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Te Maari - Estate of Eileen Te Ataakua Kingi

Māori Land Court (2016) 356 Aotea MB 86 (356 AOT 86)

20 July 2016

Application by nephew of the deceased seeking to succeed to interests dismissed. Whāngai of deceased granted a life interest and the remainder to go to the applicant and his siblings.

Download Te Maari - Estate of Eileen Te Ataakua Kingi (262 KB PDF).
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Retemeyer v Loloa - Estate of Tahuaka Waipouri 

Māori Land Court (2016) 129 Taitokerau MB 288 (129 TTK 288)

9 May 2016

An application for a whāngai to succeed was granted for Ngāti Mahuta lands affected but adjourned for further evidence concerning Ngāti Te Ata lands. The applicant's children were not entitled to succeed.

Download Retemeyer v Loloa - Estate of Tahuaka Waipouri (363 KB PDF).

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Allen v Karena - Te Koau A

Māori Land Court (2016) 51 Takitimu MB 91 (51 TKT 91)

2 August 2016

Application for trustee replacement granted. The meeting of owners to discuss the appointment was appropriately convened.

Download Allen v Karena - Te Koau A (258 KB PDF).

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Flutey - Papatupu  2A No.2

Māori Land Court (2016) 358 Aotea MB 38 (358 AOT 38)

31 August 2016

The applicant sought 30.77% of proceeds from the commercial use of land she was an owner of. In an interim judgment the Court ordered she receive 26.5% of proceeds. The remaining 4.27% would be awarded should no further submissions be filed within 1 month.

Download Flutey - Papatupu  2A No.2 (305 KB PDF).

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Murray - Parengarenga B3 Residue

Māori Land Court (2016) 128 Taitokerau MB 54 (128 TTK 54)

6 April 2016

This judgment (by way of a preliminary determination) addressed five applications about share register and land title issues affecting the Parengarenga A Incorporation and Muriwhenua Incorporation, and blocks of land related to those two incorporations.

Download Murray - Parengarenga B3 Residue (333KB PDF).

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Tito - Mangakahia 2B2 No 2A1A

Māori Land Court (2016) Chief Judge’s MB 398 (2016 CJ 398)

23 May 2016

Application seeking to amend an order appointing and replacing trustees, and an order constituting an ahu whenua trust, dismissed.

Download Tito - Mangakahia 2B2 No 2A1A (315 KB PDF).

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Simpkin - Petane Marae

Māori Land Court (2016) 51 Taitokerau MB 70 (51 TTK 70)

29 July 2016

Application seeking urgent interim injunction to prevent demolition of a wharenui dismissed.

Download Simpkin - Petane Marae (324 KB PDF).

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Delamere-Amoamo - Estate of Tairongo Te Wiremu Amoamo

Māori Land Court (2016) 139 Waiariki MB 176 (139 WAR 176)

29 April 2016

The Court determined who was entitled to succeed to the Māori interests of Tairongo Te Amoamo on the failure of a bequest by will. The applicant was granted a life interest as she was not a member of the preferred class of alienees.

Download Delamere-Amoamo (212 KB PDF) here.

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Kokiri v Hori

Māori Land Court (2016) 36 Te Waipounamu MB 151 (36 TWP 151)

20 April 2016

Application to partially terminate a whānau trust dismissed. Application for review of trust adjourned.

Download Kokiri v Hori (220 KB PDF). read more

Linda Te Aho continues her review of the new legal framework for Te Awa Tupua (the Whanganui River system) as part of the settlement of historical claims by Whanganui iwi about the Whanganui River. read more

Clarke v Gray - Poukawa 9G Trust

Māori Land Court (2016) 48 Takitimu MB 182 (48 TKT 182)

29 April 2016

The applicant obtained orders to compel the responsible trustee to recover losses flowing from the conduct of former trustees.

Download Clarke v Gray - Poukawa 9G Trust  (346 KB PDF) here.

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High Court - Te Kōti Matua

Judicial review - allocation of contested lands based on tikanga Māori - Te Runanga O Ngati Manawa v CNI Iwi Holdings Ltd [2016] NZHC 1183 - James Watson

Māori Land Court - Te Kōti Whenua Māori

Chief Judge's powers - uneconomic interest - cancellation sought - dismissed - Love v Gemmell - Anatohia Section 90C Block XVIII Gore SD [2016] Chief Judge's MB 122 (2016 CJ 122) - Indiana Shewen

Chief Judge's powers - succession - whāngai - Napia v Toia Estate of Te Wiremu Napia (2016) Chief Judge's MB 420 (2016 CJ 420)

Chief Judge's powers - application about an earlier s 44 outcome not possible - Hallett - Opawa Rangitoto 2D and 2G [2016] Chief Judge's MB 88 (2016 CJ 88) - Indiana Shewen

Chief Judge's powers - seeking amendment of share transfer - dismissed - Rameka - Papamoa 2 Sec 2B3C3B1 (2016) Chief Judge's MB 457 (2016 CJ 457) - Martha Reilly

Alienation - vesting order - cancelled - conditions not met - Walker - Kourateuwhi 2E1A1 (2016) 57 Tairawhiti MB 157 (57 TRW 157) - Indiana Shewen

Partition - granted over residential site - Pihama - Akuaku A12 (2016) 57 Tairawhiti MB 200 (57 TRW 200) - Indiana Shewen

Trusts - application to remove trustee - Karepa v Te Riini - The Kikorangi and Kareti Karepa Whānau Trust (2016) 138 Waiariki MB 134 (128 WAR 134)

Trusts - trustee removed - Chambers v Te Rangikaiwhiria - Te Hinau A Pura Whānau Trust (2016) 350 Aotea MB 74 (350 AOT 74)

Trusts - grounds for trustee removal if no resignation - Haira v White - Te Rihari Trust (2016) 136 Waiariki MB 220 (136 MB 220) - Indiana Shewen

Trusts - review of trust granted - The Maori Trustee v Brightwell - Kaipakopako 2C (2016) 354 Aotea MB 226 (354 AOT 226) - Martha Reilly

Legislation - Ngā Whakaturetanga

Te Ture mō Te Reo Māori 2016 - Māori Language Act 2016 - new directions, old problems - Māmari Stephens

Te Ture Whenua Māori Bill - policy statement and explanatory note - Toni Love

Treaty of Waitangi relationships - Ngā kōrero rangatira

The relationship between the Crown and Māori - an interview with Ivan Kwok - Kirsten Hagan

Print version

Download the Māori Law Review July 2016 (706 KB PDF)

Rameka - Papamoa 2 Sec 2B3C3B1

Māori Land Court (2016) Chief Judge's MB 457 (2016 CJ 457)

9 June 2016

The applicant unsuccessfully sought amendment of a previous order concerning a transfer of shares.

Download Rameka - Papamoa 2 Sec 2B3C3B1 (237 KB PDF).

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Love v Gemmell - Anatohia Section 90C Block XVIII Gore SD

Māori Land Court [2016] Chief Judge's MB 122 (2016 CJ 122)

16 March 2016

The applicant sought to amend an order which vested uneconomic interests in Anatohia Section 90C Block XVIII Gore SD (the 90C block) in the Māori Trustee. The applicant claimed that these interests were acquired unlawfully and thus the vesting of interests was unlawful and ultra-vires the applicable law at the time.

Download Love v Gemmell (297 KB PDF) here.

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Te Runanga O Ngati Manawa v CNI Iwi Holdings Ltd

High Court [2016] NZHC 1183

2 June 2016

The Kaingaroa State Forest lands were transferred to eight iwi under a Treaty settlement agreement. The iwi were to finalise the allocation of the lands among themselves with an adjudication panel if needed. The applicants claimed that the respondent Company had breached a statutory duty and was in breach of trust, and that the Company and the Panel had committed reviewable errors. Judicial review was granted on the basis that the panel had failed to ‘allocate’ the lands.

Download Te Runanga O Ngati Manawa v CNI Iwi Holdings Ltd [2016] NZHC 1183. read more

Walker - Kourateuwhi 2E1A1

Māori Land Court (2016) 57 Tairawhiti MB 157 (57 TRW 157)

17 March 2016

Shares were gifted from a sister to her brother to enable him to have a house site on a Māori land block. The house was not built. The applicant asked the court to cancel the earlier vesting order. The order was cancelled. It was made on conditions that had not been met.

Download Walker - Kourateuwhi 2E1A1 (205 KB PDF).

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Napia v Toia Estate of Te Wiremu Napia

Māori Land Court (2016) Chief Judge's MB 420 (2016 CJ 420)

24 May 2016

Application seeking exercise of the Chief Judge's powers to reopen a succession decision on the basis there had been a miscarriage of justice. The applicant contended the Court was unaware of a surviving son when succession was ordered. The application was dismissed.

Download Napia v Toia Estate of Te Wiremu Napia  (255 KB PDF) here. read more