Māori Law Review

Te Kōti Mana Nui - Supreme Court

Procedure - leave to appeal - Central North Island forests land - Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Manawa v CNI Iwi Holdings Limited [2026] NZSC 136 - Elizabeth Derby

Te Kōti Matua – High Court

Kaimoana customary fishing - obstruction and tikanga - Moon v Ministry for Primary Industries [2026] NZHC 2710 - Elizabeth Derby

Costs - self-represented applicant - no award made - Hona v Māori Land Court [2026] NZHC 2971 - Elizabeth Derby

Te Kōti Pīra Māori – Māori Appellate Court

Procedure - redefinition of class of beneficiaries - court must consider views of owners - Paki v Anderson - Rangitoto Tuhua 33C3B4B1D2 Māori Reservation (Te Hokingamai ki te Nehenehenui Marae/Ōtewā Marae) [2026] Māori Appellate Court MB 440 - Elizabeth Derby

Natural justice - failure to hold formal hearing or give notice before exercising powers - Watson v Steel - Tōrere Pā Reserve and other blocks [2026] Māori Appellate Court MB 553 - Elizabeth Derby

2026 Māori Appellate Court judgments - index

Te Kōti Whenua Māori – Māori Land Court

Determination of ownership of structures - tikanga considerations in determining occupation rights - Hansen Gage v Committee of Management - Hauhungaroa 1C Incorporation (2026) 545 Aotea MB 130 - Elizabeth Derby

Chief Judge's powers - amendment of succession order - DNA evidence - Ure v Ure - Succession to James Ure (2026) Chief Judge's MB 1331 - Elizabeth Derby

Special Aid - charging order under s 98(6) Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993 - Ratima - Lot 2-4 DP 7045 and Lot 5-8 DP 70145 and Others (2026) 387 Waiaraiki MB 146 - Elizabeth Derby

Trusts - opposition to appointment of trustee on grounds of suitability - Johnston v Tamihana - Te Puke Z (2026) 387 Waiaraiki MB 282 - Elizabeth Derby

2026 Māori Land Court judgments - index

Ngā whakaturetanga – Legislation

Legislation - References to Tiriti o Waitangi/Treaty of Waitangi Amendment Bills - Elizabeth Derby

Sir Edward Taihakurei Durie student essay competition 2026

Entries are open for the 2026 Sir Edward Taihakurei Durie student essay competition sponsored by the Māori Law Review. For details see this page.

Student editor 2027

The Co-editors of the Māori Law Review want to appoint a Student Editor for 2027 to assist with producing the Review. Applications close on Wednesday 25 November 2026. For details see this page.

[2026] Māori Appellate Court MB 553 (2026 APPEAL 553)

13 October 2026

Decision on two appeals relating to the four Māori reservation trusts at Tōrere. In 2025, this Court directed the Lower Court to convene a judicial conference to explore a process to set separate terms of trust for each of the Tōrere Trusts. Four of the six incumbent trustees challenged processes and decisions made by the Lower Court in implementing those directions as well as the refusal of the presiding judge to recuse themself.

Download Watson v Steel - Tōrere Pā Reserve and other blocks (253 KB PDF). read more

Johnston v Tamihana - Te Puke Z

(2026) 387 Waiaraiki MB 282 (387 WAR 282)

25 September 2026

Application to appoint a trustee to Te Puke Z Ahu Whenua Trust, opposed by the current trustees on the grounds of suitability. The Court considered whether the proposed trustee would be suitable for appointment.

Download Johnston v Tamihana - Te Puke Z (272 KB PDF). read more

Ratima - Lot 2-4 DP 7045 and Lot 5-8 DP 70145 and Others

(2026) 387 Waiaraiki MB 146 (387 WAR 146)

23 September 2026

Decision concerning the Māori Land Court Special Aid Fund and whether a charging order ought to be issued under s 98(6) of Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993 (the Act).

Download Ratima - Lot 2-4 DP 7045 and Lot 5-8 DP 70145 and Others (244 KB PDF). read more

Te Ranga Huatau

Ngā Rangahautira at Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington has released Te Ranga Huatau 2026. The Māori Law Review is pleased to offer support to bring online access to articles in this edition.

Te Kōti Mana Nui - Supreme Court

Procedure - leave to appeal - Central North Island forests land - Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Manawa v CNI Iwi Holdings Limited [2026] NZSC 136 - Elizabeth Derby

Te Kōti Matua – High Court

Kaimoana customary fishing - obstruction and tikanga - Moon v Ministry for Primary Industries [2026] NZHC 2710 - Elizabeth Derby

Costs - self-represented applicant - no award made - Hona v Māori Land Court [2026] NZHC 2971 - Elizabeth Derby

Te Kōti Pīra Māori – Māori Appellate Court

Procedure - redefinition of class of beneficiaries - court must consider views of owners - Paki v Anderson - Rangitoto Tuhua 33C3B4B1D2 Māori Reservation (Te Hokingamai ki te Nehenehenui Marae/Ōtewā Marae) [2026] Māori Appellate Court MB 440 - Elizabeth Derby

2026 Māori Appellate Court judgments - index

Te Kōti Whenua Māori – Māori Land Court

Determination of ownership of structures - tikanga considerations in determining occupation rights - Hansen Gage v Committee of Management - Hauhungaroa 1C Incorporation (2026) 545 Aotea MB 130 - Elizabeth Derby

Chief Judge's powers - amendment of succession order - DNA evidence - Ure v Ure - Succession to James Ure (2026) Chief Judge's MB 1331 - Elizabeth Derby

Procedure - stay of proceedings while similar proceedings before the High Court - Gibbs v Te Āhuru Trustee Company Ltd - Lot 1 DP 4866 and Section 1 SO 10359 (2026) 543 Aotea MB 4 - Elizabeth Derby

Trusts - establishment of whenua tōpū trust - jurisdiction to vest Māori customary land - Deputy Registrar v Davis - Mataimoana (Māori Customary Land) (2026) 540 Aotea MB 91 - Elizabeth Derby

Trusts - replacement of trustees - enforcement of obligations of trust - Ngahere-Pompey v Green - Allotment 62D Parish of Waipa (Waingaro Marae) (2026) 303 Waikato Maniapoto MB 182 - Elizabeth Derby

Trusts - jurisdiction to review actions of Ngāti Pāoa Trust Board as former sole responsible trustee of Waiheke Station Trust - Ngāti Pāoa Iwi Trust v Ngāti Pāoa Trust Board - Allotment of Parish 20 Waiheke and others (Waiheke Station) (2026) 303 Waikato Maniapoto MB 30 - Elizabeth Derby

2026 Māori Land Court judgments - index

Te Rōpū Whakamana i Te Tiriti o Waitangi – Waitangi Tribunal

Legislation - references to Treaty principles - Te Tinihanga o Ngā Mātāpono: The Urgent Report on the Treaty Principles Reform (Wai 3565, 2026)

Hauora - health and disability services - Hauwhaikaha - the Disability System Report- pre-publication version (Wai 2575, 2026)

Hauora - alternative plans for Maaori health following disestablishment of Te Aka Whai Ora - Hautupua: Te Aka Whai Ora (Maaori Health Authority) Priority Report - Part 2 (Wai 2575, 2026)

Education - Hūtia te Rito o te Harakeke, kei Hea te Kōmako e Kō? The Stage Two, Part I Report of the Education and Training Amendment Act and Te Mātaiaho Urgent Inquiry - pre-publication version (Wai 3553, 2026)

Ngā whakaturetanga – Legislation

Legislation - References to Tiriti o Waitangi/Treaty of Waitangi Amendment Bills - Elizabeth Derby

Sir Edward Taihakurei Durie student essay competition 2026

Entries are open for the 2026 Sir Edward Taihakurei Durie student essay competition sponsored by the Māori Law Review. For details see this page.

Student editor 2027

The Co-editors of the Māori Law Review want to appoint a Student Editor for 2027 to assist with producing the Review. Applications close on Wednesday 25 November 2026. For details see this page.

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The Government has introduced three omnibus bills which, if passed, would give effect to aspects of the National-New Zealand First coalition agreement to conduct a comprehensive review of all legislation that includes references to "the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi", and to either replace all such references with specific words, relating to the relevance and application of the Treaty, or to repeal the references.
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Moon v Ministry for Primary Industries

High Court [2026] NZHC 2710

14 September 2026

Unsuccessful appeal against convictions of possessing pāua while in possession of a breathing apparatus and for obstructing a fishery officer. The appellant contended that the District Court erred in rejecting a tikanga-based contention in relation to the charge of obstruction.

Download Moon v Ministry for Primary Industries (315 KB PDF). read more

[2026] Māori Appellate Court MB 440 (2026 APPEAL 440)

8 September 2026

This is a case about the redefinition of the class of beneficiaries for the Rangitoto Tuhua 33C3B4B1D2 Māori Reservation. The Court found that the Māori Land Court did not consider the views of the descendants of the original owners of the whenua when it was considering redefinition of the beneficiary class.

Download Paki v Anderson - Rangitoto Tuhua 33C3B4B1D2 Māori Reservation (Te Hokingamai ki te Nehenehenui Marae/Ōtewā Marae) (271 KB PDF). read more

Hona v Māori Land Court

High Court [2026] NZHC 2971

29 September 2026

Application for costs. The self-represented applicant sought costs against both respondents, the Māori Land Court and the trustees of the Paenoa Te Akau Trust, following a judicial review decision which found that the inclusion of a three-month compliance period in a formal order issued by the Māori Land Court breached natural justice and was unlawful.

Download Hona v Māori Land Court (121 KB PDF). read more

Tāmati Durie-McGrath (he/him; Rangitāne, Ngāti Kauwhata, Ngāti Rangatahi, Raukawa ki te Tonga, Ngāti Tuwharetoa) discusses the function of mana and whakapapa within te ao Māori legal constructs through an examination of Ngāti Raukawa's narratives.

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Emma Barnes-Wetere (she/her; Waikato-Tainui, Ngāti Maniapoto) reflects on the intersection of law, culture, identity, and place, shaped by her experience on a student exchange at Esade Law School in Barcelona.

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Eruera Raine (he/him; Ngāti Kahu) discusses the differences between whakapapa and the Western concept of "citizenship" and considers the pathway towards tikanga-based citizenship.

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Savannah Cowan (she/her; Ngāpuhi, Ngāruahine, Waikato-Tainui, Ngāti Kauwhata) discusses whakapapa in family law through an analysis of the 2024 High Court appeal in Mable v Rangi. Note that the names of the parties to these proceedings have been modified.

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E ngā mana, e ngā reo, e nga karangatanga maha, tēnei te reo whakamihi atu ki a koutou! Nau piki mai, nau kake mai ki te kohikohinga kōrero nei, e kī ai ko Te Ranga Huatau! read more

Amiria Tikao (she/her; Kāi Tahu (Kāti Irakehu, Kāi Tarewa, Ngāi Tūāhuriri)) discusses the duty of active protection in the context of environmental decisionmaking in light of the recent case Climate Clinic Aotearoa Inc v Minister for Energy and Resources.

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Noah Wineti (he/him; Ngāti Whakaaue, Ngāti Awa, Ngāi Te Rangi, Te Whakatōhea) and PJ Wana (he/him; Ngāti Awa, Tūhoe) consider the recognition of whakapapa-derived decision-making in state legal processes.

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Amaia Watson (she/her; Ngāti Kahungunu ki Heretaunga, Ngāti Kahungunu ki te Wairoa, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Rongomaiwahine) contemplates the constitutional authority for the Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) (Customary Title) Amendment Act 2025.

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Ngārewarewa Tata (she/her; Waikato-Tainui, Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāi Tai, Rongowhakaata) imagines a legal system governed by the law of whakapapa.

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Phaedra Chin (she/her; Te Rarawa, Te Aupōuri) and Savannah Cowan (she/her; Ngāpuhi, Ngāruahine, Waikato-Tainui, Ngāti Kauwhata) reflect on the legacy of Ngā Rangahautira and look forward to the future.

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Patricia Waugh (she/her; Ngāti Pikiao, Ngāti Mākino, Ngāti Rongomai) discusses shared authority in the resource management space and the work still to be done to reach a transformed Aotearoa.

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Hansen Gage v Committee of Management - Hauhungaroa 1C Incorporation

(2026) 545 Aotea MB 130 (545 AOT 130)

11 September 2026

Application for determination of ownership of a whare and pātaka kai and determination of the applicants' right to occupy the land that those structures are situated on.

Download Hansen Gage v Committee of Management - Hauhungaroa 1C Incorporation (534 KB PDF). read more

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