Māori Law Review

Te Kōti Mana Nui

Procedure - leave to appeal - Crown Forest Assets Act 1989 - Ruru v Attorney-General [2026] NZSC 79 - Elizabeth Derby

Te Kōti Pīra – Court of Appeal

Jurisdiction - declaration of inconsistency - legislative settlement of Waitangi Tribunal claim - Wairarapa Moana ki Pouākani Incorporation v Attorney-General [2026] NZCA 255 - Craig Linkhorn

Te Kōti Pīra Māori – Māori Appellate Court

2026 Māori Appellate Court judgments - index

Te Kōti Whenua Māori – Māori Land Court

Trusts - breach of trustee duties - further remedies - MacDonald v Gibson - Ngāti Tāwhirikura Hapū Charitable Trust (2026) 538 Aotea MB 260 - Elizabeth Derby

Occupation order - granted on amended terms to reflect shareholding - Tana v Hira - Waiteuku 2A4A (2026) 317 Taitokerau MB 79 - Elizabeth Derby

2026 Māori Land Court judgments - index

Ngā Whakaturetanga - Legislation

Legislation - Te Here ā Nuku (Nelson Tenths) Bill - Elizabeth Derby

Te Kōti Pīra - Court of Appeal [2026] NZCA 255

16 June 2026

Unsuccessful appeal from a High Court decision finding jurisdiction existed to make a declaration of inconsistency, but declining in the circumstances to exercise that jurisdiction. The declaration sought was that the settlement by legislation of Wairarapa Moana ki Pouākani Incorporation's claim to the Waitangi Tribunal was inconsistent with rights protected by s 27(3) of the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990. On appeal, the Court decided the High Court did not have jurisdiction to hear the proceedings.

Download Wairarapa Moana ki Pouākani Incorporation v Attorney-General (357 KB PDF).

read more

Te Here ā Nuku (Nelson Tenths) Bill

The Bill, introduced 22 June 2026, is to give effect to an agreement reached between the Crown and Te Here-ā-Nuku Trust in 2025 for the return of approximately 3,250 hectares of land at Te Tau Ihu, the northern part of the South Island. The Crown will also provide $420 million in compensation for land that the parties have agreed will not be be returned. This followed the High Court's finding, in 2024, that the Crown did not own a large area of land at Te Tau Ihu. Rather, it had been holding it on trust for the descendents of the original owners.
read more

Tana v Hira - Waiteuku 2A4A

(2026) 317 Taitokerau MB 79 (317 TTK 79)

25 June 2026

Application for an occupation order on the Waiteuku 2A4A block. The occupation order sought was for an area roughly equating to the applicant's shares held in the Trust. However, the Trust does not govern the use and administration of the entire block.

Download Tana v Hira - Waiteuku 2A4A (219 KB PDF). read more

Te Kōti Mana Nui

Procedure - leave to appeal - Crown Forest Assets Act 1989 - Ruru v Attorney-General [2026] NZSC 79 - Elizabeth Derby

Te Kōti Pīra – Court of Appeal

Comity - non-interference - Treaty settlement process - Lanauze v Attorney-General [2026] NZCA 244 - Elizabeth Derby

Te Kōti Matua – High Court

Procedure - application for hearing adjournment - Rakiura Tītī Committee v Reihana [2026] NZHC 1338 - Elizabeth Derby

Te Kōti Whenua Māori – Māori Land Court

Trusts - establishment of whānau trust - can a spouse be a beneficiary of a whānau trust - Whata v Kerr - Lynette Te Maari Whata Whānau Trust (2026) 131 Tākitimu MB 199 - Elizabeth Derby

Trusts - breach of trustee duties - remedies - MacDonald v Gibson - Ngāti Tāwhirikura Hapū Charitable Trust (2026) 537 Aotea MB 1 - Elizabeth Derby

Trusts - breach of trustee duties - further remedies - MacDonald v Gibson - Ngāti Tāwhirikura Hapū Charitable Trust (2026) 538 Aotea MB 260 - Elizabeth Derby

2026 Māori Land Court judgments - index

2025 Māori Land Court judgments - index

read more

MacDonald v Gibson - Ngāti Tāwhirikura Hapū Charitable Trust

(2026) 538 Aotea MB 260 (538 AOT 260)

24 June 2026

This is the third substantive judgment centred on internal trustee dysfunction within the Ngāti Tāwhirikura Hapū Charitable Trust. Earlier in June 2026, the Court issued a decision in which it imposed stand-down periods on the trustees, but the Court reserved its decision on the balance of remedies. This judgment dealt with indemnity, repayment of remuneration and honoraria, orders relating to Te Rewarewa, and costs generally.

Download MacDonald v Gibson - Ngāti Tāwhirikura Hapū Charitable Trust (313 KB PDF). read more

Court of Appeal [2026] NZCA 244

10 June 2026

Unsuccesful appeal against High Court decisions striking out an application for declarations and declining to make interim orders

The trustees of the Moriori Imi Settlement Trust, on behalf of Imi Moriori, appealed against two decisions of the High Court about ongoing Treaty settlement negotiations between the Crown and Ngāti Mutunga o Wharekauri. The Court agreed with the High Court that issuing the declaration and granting the interim orders sought by Imi Moriori would breach the principle of non-interference in parliamentary proceedings.

Download Lanauze v Attorney-General (437 KB PDF).

read more

MacDonald v Gibson - Ngāti Tāwhirikura Hapū Charitable Trust

(2026) 537 Aotea MB 1 (537 AOT 1)

5 June 2026

Decision on remedies following an earlier decision on trustee liability. The Court found that all of the trustees had fallen short of their obligations. However, the Court believed that imposing a stand-down period would be a more appropriate remedy than removal of the trustees for cause.

Download MacDonald v Gibson - Ngāti Tāwhirikura Hapū Charitable Trust (280 KB PDF). read more

Whata v Kerr - Lynnette Te Maari Whata Whānau Trust

(2026) 131 Tākitimu MB 199 (131 TKT 199)

2 June 2026

Application to establish a whānau trust. The issue for determination was whether a spouse can be a beneficiary of a whānau trust.

Download Whata v Kerr - Lynnette Te Maari Whata Whānau Trust (191 KB PDF). read more

Te Kōti Pīra – Court of Appeal

Appeal - allocation of CNI forests land - tikanga-based resolution process - Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Manawa v CNI Iwi Holdings Limited [2026] NZCA 92 - Elizabeth Derby

Appeal - jurisdiction of the Māori Land Court - indefeasibility of registered title - Waikato River - Mercury NZ Limited v Māori Land Court [2026] NZCA 91 - Elizabeth Derby

Te Kōti Matua – High Court

Judicial review - jurisdiction to review party discipline - improper expulsion process - Kapa-Kingi v Tamihere [2026] NZHC 517 - Elizabeth Derby

Procedure - application to lift stay - Reihana v Rakiura Tītī Committee [2026] NZHC 72 - Elizabeth Derby

Procedure - application for hearing adjournment - Rakiura Tītī Committee v Reihana [2026] NZHC 1338 - Elizabeth Derby

Te Kōti Pīra Māori – Māori Appellate Court

Costs - Special Aid Fund - Malcolm v Hahipene - Te Karaka 1B2B1 [2026] Māori Appellate Court MB 108 - Elizabeth Derby

Costs - 90% costs awarded - Phillips v Scott - Ōuri 1A3 [2026] Māori Appellate Court MB 165 - Elizabeth Derby

2026 Māori Appellate Court judgments - index

2025 Māori Appellate Court judgments - index

Te Kōti Whenua Māori – Māori Land Court

Succession - whāngai - previous succession to biological parent - Larkin - Succession to Tamati Noema Tawio (2026) 313 Taitokerau MB 192 - Elizabeth Derby

Alienation - definition of preferred class of alienees - Moratti - Lot 3 Deposited Plan 440262 (2026) 532 Aotea MB 172 - Elizabeth Derby

Partition - threshold requirement of necessity - development of a papakāinga - Biddle - Ruatoki A66 (2026) 370 Waiariki MB 239 - Elizabeth Derby

Partition - determination of ownership of dwelling - preliminary decision - Sievers - Ohau No 3 Subdivision No 6B (2026) 534 Aotea MB 178 - Elizabeth Derby

Occupation order - succession to occupation order - Fletcher - Part Matapouri 1A (2026) 311 Taitokerau MB 299 - Elizabeth Derby

Occupation order - determination of ownership of a dwelling - Thomas - Wharekauri No 1A No 2 (2026) 103 Te Waipounamu MB 124 - Elizabeth Derby

Chief Judge's powers - amendment of succession order - whāngai - Bevin v Winders - Succession to David Te Au (2026) Chief Judge's MB 559 - Elizabeth Derby

Status of land - application to change status to sell land - Kupa - Lot 10J Pt Omahu 2C1C and other blocks (2026) 128 Tākitimu MB 162 - Elizabeth Derby

Injunction - respondent to vacate land - Heta v Heta - Hauai 2D8 (2026) 311 Taitokerau MB 50 - Elizabeth Derby

2026 Māori Land Court judgments - index

2025 Māori Land Court judgments - index

Te Rōpū Whakamana i Te Tiriti o Waitangi - Waitangi Tribunal

Legislation - Treaty principles references - Education and Training Act 2020 - Hūtia te rito o te harakeke, kei hea te kōmako e kō? The Interim Stage One Report of the Education and Training Amendment Act and Te Mātaiaho Urgent Inquiry (Wai 3353, 2026) - Elizabeth Derby

read more

Moratti - Lot 3 Deposited Plan 440262

(2026) 532 Aotea MB 172 (532 AOT 172)

24 April 2026

Application for the Court to make an order as to whether an incorporated society is a member of any preferred classes of alienees specified in s 4 of Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993.

Download Moratti - Lot 3 Deposited Plan 440262 (383 KB PDF). read more

Reihana v Rakiura Tītī Committee

Te Kōti Matua o Aotearoa - High Court

[2026] NZHC 72

2 February 2026

Application to lift the stay of judicial review proceedings relating to the management of the Rakiura Beneficial Tītī Islands.

Download Reihana v Rakiura Tītī Committee (281 KB PDF). read more

Larkin - Succession to Tamaiti Noema Tawio

(2026) 313 Taitokerau MB 192 (313 TTK 192)

29 April 2026

Application to succeed to the deceased as his whāngai. The Court determined whether the applicant was a whāngai of the deceased before determining whether she was entitled to succeed to his interests.

Download Larkin - Succession to Tamaiti Noema Tawio (254 KB PDF). read more

[2026] NZHC 1338

20 May 2026

Application for a hearing adjournment pending the outcome of other proceedings in the High Court. Granted for a different reason - absence to perform mahinga kai.

Download Rakiura Tītī Committee v Reihana (122 KB PDF). read more

Thomas - Wharekauri No 1A No 2

(2026) 103 Te Waipounamu MB 124 (103 TWP 124)

7 April 2026

Application for an occupation order and determination of ownership of a dwelling situated on Wharekauri No 1A No 2. The Court took into account the unique considerations for the best use and development of land on the Chatham Islands in its assessment of this application.

Download Thomas - Wharekauri No 1A No 2 (541 KB PDF). read more

Sievers - Ohau No 3 Subdivision No 6B

(2026) 534 Aotea MB 178 (534 AOT 178)

14 May 2026

Preliminary decision on applications for partition of Māori freehold land, change of status of land, and determination of ownership of a dwelling. In this decision, the Court considered whether the applicant, being non-Māori and the sole owner in the land, can apply for partition of the land. The Court also determined the ownership of the dwelling on the land.

Download Sievers - Ohau No 3 Subdivision No 6B (252 KB PDF). read more

Bevin v Winders - Succession to David Te Au

(2026) Chief Judge's MB 559 (2026 CJ 559)

8 April 2026

Application to amend a succession order to remove the deceased's whāngai from the list of successors on the basis that he was not entitled to succeed.

Download Bevin v Winders - Succession to David Te Au (634 KB PDF). read more

Heta v Heta - Hauai 2D8

(2026) 311 Taitokerau MB 50 (311 TTK 50)

27 March 2026

Application for an injunction requiring the respondent to vacate a garage on Hauai 2D8.

Download Heta v Heta - Hauai 2D8 (300 KB PDF). read more

Kupa - Lot 10J Pt Omahu 2C1C and other blocks

(2026) 128 Tākitimu MB 162 (128 TKT 162)

20 March 2026

Application to change the status of four sections of land to General land as the applicant was not able to sell them as Māori freehold land.

Download Kupa - Lot 10J Pt Omahu 2C1C and other blocks (198 KB PDF). read more

Biddle - Ruatoki A66

(2026) 370 Waiariki MB 239 (370 WAR 239)

17 April 2026

Decision on two applications seeking orders of partition of Ruatoki A Section 66 for the purpose of developing a papakāinga.

Download Biddle - Ruatoki A66 (548 KB PDF). read more

Fletcher - Part Matapouri 1A

(2026) 311 Taitokerau MB 299

14 April 2026

This application sought to vary an occupation order made in favour of the applicants' late mother. The Court considered whether the applicants could succeed to their mother's occupation order given that she was not an owner in the land that was subject to the order.

Download Fletcher - Part Matapouri 1A (248 KB PDF). read more

Te Kōti Pīra – Court of Appeal

Appeal - allocation of CNI forests land - tikanga-based resolution process - Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Manawa v CNI Iwi Holdings Limited [2026] NZCA 92 - Elizabeth Derby

Appeal - jurisdiction of the Māori Land Court - indefeasibility of registered title - Waikato River - Mercury NZ Limited v Māori Land Court [2026] NZCA 91 - Elizabeth Derby

Te Kōti Matua – High Court

Judicial review - jurisdiction to review party discipline - improper expulsion process - Kapa-Kingi v Tamihere [2026] NZHC 517 - Elizabeth Derby

Te Kōti Pīra Māori – Māori Appellate Court

Costs - Special Aid Fund - Malcolm v Hahipene - Te Karaka 1B2B1 [2026] Māori Appellate Court MB 108 - Elizabeth Derby

Costs - 90% costs awarded - Phillips v Scott - Ōuri 1A3 [2026] Māori Appellate Court MB 165 - Elizabeth Derby

2026 Māori Appellate Court judgments - index

2025 Māori Appellate Court judgments - index

Te Kōti Whenua Māori – Māori Land Court

Succession - whāngai - previous succession to biological parent - Larkin - Succession to Tamati Noema Tawio (2026) 313 Taitokerau MB 192 - Elizabeth Derby

Alienation - definition of preferred class of alienees - Moratti - Lot 3 Deposited Plan 440262 (2026) 532 Aotea MB 172 - Elizabeth Derby

2026 Māori Land Court judgments - index

2025 Māori Land Court judgments - index

Court of Appeal [2026] NZCA 92

27 March 2026

Appeals against decisions of the High Court regarding the distribution of Central North Island forests land among the Central North Island iwi.

Download Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Manawa v CNI Iwi Holdings Limited (495 KB PDF).

read more