January 2026 Māori Law Review

2026 Māori Land Court judgments – index

This table lists the 2026 judgments of the Māori Land Court and contains links to reports about the decisions.

For other years: 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025. Follow this link for the 2026 Māori Appellate Court judgments index.

2026 Māori Land Court judgments

Judgment dateCitationMinute BookMLISLegislationSubject
2026
22.01.26Lawless v Ellis - Hautu 1A2524 Aotea MB 287524 AOT 287Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993, ss 237 and 238.Status of trust entity.
27.01.26Deputy Registrar - Rakato525 Aotea MB 141525 AOT 141Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993, ss 315 and 338(5)(b).Roadway.
28.01.26Bryers v Broughton - Rotorangi No 2525 Aotea MB 249525 AOT 249Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993, s 241.Trusts - refusal to remove interests from trust.
29.01.26Atmore - Part Waopukatea East No 1A Sec 2525 Aotea MB 272525 AOT 272Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993, s 289.Partition.
12.02.26Mio - Tōrere Pā Reserve363 Waiariki MB 47363 WAR 47Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993, s 67; Māori Reservation Regulations 1994, reg 21Recusal application.
16.02.26Deputy Registrar v Cook - Succession to William Williams527 Aotea MB 59527 AOT 59Māori Affairs Amendment Act 1967, s 78A(7)Succession.
19.02.26McLean - Totaranui A1D1139 Tairāwhiti MB 109139 TRW 109Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993, ss 239 and 338Beneficiaries of Māori Reservation.
24.02.26Povey v Diamond - Otakanini L308 Taitokerau MB 155308 TTK 155Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993, ss 19 and 240Injunction, occupation of house.
25.02.26Albert v Kainga Ora Homes and Communities308 Taitokerau MB 221308 TTK 221Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993, s 19Determination of land, injunction.
09.03.26Miru v Te Awa - Te Komiti 2A1A309 Taitokerau MB 300309 TTK 300Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993, s 19Trust administration. Māori reservation.
16.03.26Steedman v Steedman - Awarua 2C13C2B529 Aotea MB 53529 AOT 53Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993, s 240Removal of trustees.
17.03.26Tupe v Tua - Tuawai B14B310 Taitokerau MB 169310 TTK 169Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993, s 19Injunction.
20.03.26Kupa Jnr - Lot 10J Pt Omahu 2C1C128 Tākitimu MB 162128 TKT 162Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993, s 135Status of land.
27.03.26Heta v Heta - Hauai 2D 8311 Taitokerau MB 50311 TTK 50Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993, s 19Injunction to vacate the land.
02.04.26Albert v Kainga Ora  - 1 Beatrix St311 Taitokerau MB 89311 TTK 89Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993, ss 18(1)(h) and 18(1)(i)Status of land.
07.04.26Thomas - Wharekauri No 1A No 2103 Te Waipounamu MB 124103 TWP 124Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993, ss 18(1)(a) and 328Occupation order, determination of ownership.
08.04.26Bevin v Winders - Succession to David Te AuChief Judge's MB 5592026 CJ 559Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993, s 45Amendment of succession order.
08.04.26Pyne v Rauwhero - Waotu South 17 and Lot 1 DP 330544370 Waiariki MB 27370 WAR 27Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993, s 19Administration of trust.
13.04.26Tootill v Hakaraia - Waihaha 4531 Aotea MB 1531 AOT 1Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993, s 240Removal of trustee.
13.04.26Harris - Succession to Kararaina Tame WiremuChief Judge's MB 5862026 CJ 586Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993, s 45Amendment of succession order.
14.04.26Fletcher - Part Matapouri 1A311 Taitokerau MB 299311 TTK 299Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993, s 330Application to vary occupation order.
17.04.26Biddle - Ruatoki A Section 66370 Waiariki MB 239370 WAR 239Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993, s 289Occupation and utilisation of land. Partition. Ahi kā.
20.04.26Miru v Te Awa - Te Komiti 2A1A313 Taitokerau MB 36313 TTK 36Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993, s 19Breach of trustee obligations.
22.04.26Maaka v Te Uki - Pakowhai 5C1130 Tākitimu MB 25130 TKT 25Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993, s 289Partition.
24.04.26Moratti v Manatōpū - Lot 3 DP 440262532 Aotea MB 172532 AOT 172Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993, s 151Preferred class of alienees.
29.04.26Dixon - Otatuhuna No. 3Chief Judge's MB 6532026 CJ 653Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993, s 45Amendment to succession orders.
29.04.26Larkin - Succession to Tamati Noema Tawio313 Taitokerau MB 192313 TTK 192Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993, ss 113, 115, and 118Succession.
30.04.26Wawatai v Horomia - Mangatuna 1G141 Tairāwhiti MB 262141 TRW 262Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993, s 19(1)(b); Māori Reservations Regulations 1994, reg 21Māori reservation, weather related risk, relocation of marae.
01.05.26Gurau v Danford - Waitakaruru 1A1B2C and D1Chief Judge's MB 6662026 CJ 666Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993, s 45Vesting of shares.
05.05.26Petersen v Dudley - Te Konoti B4A3B2B313 Taitokerau MB 258313 TTK 258Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993, s 240Removal of trustee. Costs.
13.05.26Walmsley v Walmsley - Succession to Moetapapa WalmsleyChief Judge's MB 6982026 CJ 698Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993, s 45Succession.
14.05.26Sievers - Ohau No 3 Subdivision No 6B534 Aotea MB 178534 AOT 178Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993, ss 18(1)(a), 135, 136, and 289Determination of ownership of dwelling. Partition. Status change.
25.05.26Wharewhiti-Tuffery v Wilson - Tahoraiti 2A2 Lot L and others130 Tākitimu MB 279130 TKT 279Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993, s 18(1)(a)Determination of ownership of dwelling.
25.05.26Fruen v Knuckey - Puketapu E and Lot 1 DP 16633535 Aotea MB 49535 AOT 49Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993, s 19Occupation of reservation land.
28.05.26Steedman v Steedman - Awarua 2C13C2B and other blocks536 Aotea MB 91536 AOT 91Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993, s 43Application for rehearing.
02.06.26Chief Executive of the Ministry of Culture and Heritage v Hokotehi Moriori Trust - Determination of ownership of taonga tūturu found at Waikato Bay, Chatham Islands105 Te Waipounamu MB 260105 TWP 260Protected Objects Act 1975, ss 11 and 12Determination of ownership of taonga tūturu.
02.06.26Whata v Kerr - Lynette Te Maari Whata Whānau Trust131 Tākitimu MB 199131 TKT 199Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993, ss 43, 214, 219, 220, and 222Establishment of whānau trust. Considered whether a spouse can be a beneficiary of a whānau trust.
05.06.26MacDonald v Gibson - Ngāti Tāwhirikura Hapū Charitable Trust 537 Aotea MB 1537 AOT 1Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993, ss 236, 237, 238, and 240Remedies decision following an earlier liability decision on breaches of trustee duties.
23.06.26Rehu v Rehu - Mangorewa Kaharoa 13299 Waikato Maniapoto MB 181299 WMN 181Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993, s 241Trust administration.
24.06.26MacDonald v Gibson - Ngāti Tāwhirikura Hapū Charitable Trust 538 Aotea MB 260538 AOT 260Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993, ss 236, 237, 238, and 240Remedies.
25.06.26Tana v Hira - Waiteuku 2A4A317 Taitokerau MB 79317 TTK 79Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993, s 328Occupation order.