Māori Law Review

Māori Appellate Court - Te Kōti Pīra Māori

2015 Māori Appellate Court judgments - index

Alienation - vesting order - extent of Court discretion - Matthews v Matthews – Estate of Graham Ngahina Matthews [2015] Māori Appellate Court MB 512 (2015 APPEAL 512) - Andrew Irwin

Māori Land Court - Te Kōti Whenua Māori

2015 Māori Land Court judgments - index

Status of land - title investigation dismissed - Collier v Stevens - Tataweka Island (2015) 107 Waikato Maniapoto MB 161 (107 WMN 161)

Vesting order - application to gift shares dismissed - Wade - Whakarewarewa No 3 Sec 1B Reserve and Whakarewarewa No 2B (2015) 130 Waiariki MB 136 (130 WAR 136)

Alienation of land - confirmation granted - preferred class of alienees - Steedman v Apatu - Owhaoko D 6 Subdn 3 (2015) 341 Aotea MB 164 (341 AOT 164)

Alienation of land - long term lease registered - Awakeri Hot Springs (2002) Ltd v Trustees of the Pukaahu Domain Trust - Pukaahu (2015) 130 Waiariki MB 140 (130 WAR 140)

Trusts - application opposing appointment of trustees dismissed - Powell-Tunapahore 6 (2015) 130 Waiariki MB 160 (130 WAR 160)

Trusts - review of trust - directions to trustees - Perigo - Raetihi Ahu Whenua Trust (2015) 343 Aotea MB 30 (343 AOT 30)

Trusts - variation of trust order - Baker - Te Tii Waitangi B3 (2015) 113 Taitokerau MB 31 (113 TTK 31)

Easements - easement orders confirmed and agent appointed to receive compensation - Top Energy - Whakataha Z1C (2015) 117 Taitokerau MB 87 (117 TTK 87)

Roadways - road line cancelled and land re-vested - Western Bay of Plenty District Council -  Pt Taumata 3A2B Block (2015) 128 Waiariki MB 49 (128 WAR 49)

Landlocked Māori land - right of way - Roberts - Te Touwai B19A1 (2015) 114 Taitokerau MB 131 (114 TTK 131)

Waitangi Tribunal - Te Rōpū Whakamana i Te Tiriti o Waitangi

Waitangi Tribunal procedure - urgent inquiries - Corrections and Reoffending Prisoners Claim - Nicholas Coyle

Waitangi Tribunal procedure - urgent inquiries - Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993 (Wai 2478, #2.5.21) - Nicholas Coyle

Waitangi Tribunal procedure - review of Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993 - consultation - submission by Māori Land Court judges - Toni Love

Legislation - Ngā Whakaturetanga

Treaty settlement legislation before the House of Representatives in 2015 - Dr Carwyn Jones with Stevie-Rae Hart

Print version

Download the Māori Law Review December 2015 (724 KB PDF)

Court of Appeal - Te Kōti Pīra

Partition - appeal dismissed from refusal to partition land - Whaanga v Smith [2015] NZCA 121 - Craig Linkhorn

High Court - Te Kōti Mātua

Judicial review - trusts - Lake Horowhenua Trust - lawfully created - Paki v Māori Land Court [2015] NZHC 2535 - Andrew Row

Māori Appellate Court - Te Kōti Pīra Māori

Chief Judge's powers - breach of natural justice - Tioro v McCallum - Estate of Ngapiki Waaka Hakaraia [2015] Māori Appellate Court MB 483 (2015 APPEAL 483)

Appeals – leave granted - natural justice issues – Matchitt v Matchitt [2015] Māori Appellate Court MB 433 (2015 APPEAL 433)

Costs – award after appeal withdrawn – Trustees of the Maungatautari 4G Section IV Trust v Maungatautari Ecological Island Trust - Maungatautari No 4G Sec IV Block [2015] 2015 Māori Appellate Court MB 634

Alienation - vesting order - extent of Court discretion - Matthews v Matthews – Estate of Graham Ngahina Matthews [2015] Māori Appellate Court MB 512 (2015 APPEAL 512) - Andrew Irwin

Trusts – trustee appointments – all relevant factors weighed correctly – Mahoney v Trustees of the Nicholas George Te Paa Whānau Trust - Okahu 1 and other blocks [2015] Māori Appellate Court MB 417 (2015 APPEAL 417)

Māori Incorporations – elections – lower Court wrong to order an entire new election – Watson v Parker - The Proprietors of Torere 64 Incorporated [2015] Māori Appellate Court MB 543 (2015 APPEAL 543)

Māori Land Court - Te Kōti Whenua Māori

Injunction - interim injunction granted - Shortland v Tipene - Motatau 2 Section 34A1 (2015) 114 Taitokerau MB 212 (114 TTK 212)

Chief Judge's Powers - order amended - Katipa v Dobbs - Harataunga 2C1 (2015) 2015 Chief Judge's MB 635 (2015 CJ 635)

Encroachment and access - land swap and private right of way created - Smith - Waiomu 3B2B2B3B3 and Waiomu 3B2B2B3B1B (2015) 105 Waikato Maniapoto MB 12 (105 WMN 12)

Trusts - injunction, review of trust and trustee removal - interim judgment - directions issued - Karena v Haines-Winiata - Te Koau A Trust (2015) 43 Takitimu MB 200 (43 TKT 200)

Trusts - appointment of trustees - delay - application adjourned - White v Dodd - Ruaihona Marae (2015) 128 Waiariki MB 155 (128 WAR 155)

Occupation order - sought in substitution - dismissed - Leef v Leef - Panguru A47B (2015) 113 Taitokerau MB 11 (113 TTK 11)

Occupation order - application adjourned - governing trust not functioning - Aramoana v Keno - Allotment 612 Parish of Waiotahi (2015) 128 Waiariki MB 169 (128 WAR 169)

Māori reservation - sufficient support - Tipene - Kaikou Lot 3 13B2 (2015) 114 Taitokerau MB 45 (114 TTK 45)

Waitangi Tribunal - Te Rōpū Whakamana i Te Tiriti o Waitangi

Protecting hapū rangatiratanga - Ngāpuhi Mandate Inquiry Report (Wai 2490, 2015) - Dr Carwyn Jones

Self-government - Whaia Te Mana Motuhake - In Pursuit of Mana Motuhake: Report on the Māori Community Development Act Claim (Wai 2417, 2014) - Rachael Jones with Nicholas Coyle

Waitangi Tribunal procedure - urgent inquiries - Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993 (Wai 2478, #2.5.21) - Nicholas Coyle

Waitangi Tribunal procedure - urgent inquiries - Flag referenda (Wai 2534, #2.5.3) - Nicholas Coyle

Book review - Arotakena pukapuka

Still wrestling with laws and histories – a comment on Grant Morris, Prendergast: Legal Villain? - Professor Mark Hickford

Print version

Download the Māori Law Review November 2015 (626 KB PDF)

Sir Edward Taihakurei Durie student essay competition 2015

Our judges have selected Monique van Alphen Fyfe’s essay on the proposed reforms to Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993 as the winning entry for 2015. Congratulations Monique. The essay will be published in the February 2016 issue of the Review.

Special Issue - Hui a Tau 2015 - Te Hunga Roia Māori o Aotearoa

Editorial – Dr Carwyn Jones

The meaning and purpose of the Treaty of Waitangi – Dame Sian Elias

Mana Wāhine – the importance of women in the legal profession – Dame Lowell Goddard

Can you see the island? – Justice Joseph Williams

Being an effective advocate – practical tips for appeal and trial work – Judge Jan Marie Doogue

Mana wāhine – strategies for survival – Māori perspectives – Deputy Chief Judge Caren Fox

Te Miina o Papatūānuku – Te Mana o te Wahine – Annette Sykes

Litigating against the Crown - Peter Andrew

Māori Land Court - Te Kōti Whenua Māori

Vesting order - granted ahead of creation of whānau trust - Braniff - Motatau 2 Section 52B (2015) 111 Taitokerau MB 299 (111 TTK 299)

Roadways - application dismissed - Quaife - Part Whakapoungakau Roadway 1B3G (2015) 127 Waiariki MB 171 (127 WAR 171)

Print version

Download the Māori Law Review October 2015 (726 KB PDF)

Sir Edward Taihakurei Durie student essay competition 2015

Our judges have selected Monique van Alphen Fyfe’s essay on the proposed reforms to Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993 as the winning entry for 2015. Congratulations Monique. The essay will be published in the February 2016 issue of the Review.

High Court - Te Kōti Matua

Judicial review - refusal to make binding recommendations - Flavell v Waitangi Tribunal [2015] NZHC 1907 - Baden Vertongen

The Ngāti Kahu Remedies Report - a further comment in the wake of Flavell v Waitangi Tribunal [2015] NZHC 1907 - Karen Feint

Māori Appellate Court – Te Kōti Pīra Māori

Trusts - trustee to account for profits - apportionment between trusts - Adlam v Savage - Lot 39 A Sec. 2A Parish of Matatā and Lot 39 A Sec. 2B No.2B No.2A Parish of Matatā [2015] Māori Appellate Court MB 59 - Arena Williams

Māori Land Court - Te Kōti Whenua Māori

Injunction - permanent injunction granted - Paraire v Paraire - Part Mangatawa 10 (2015) 105 Waikato Maniapoto MB 67 (105 WMN 67)

Costs - jurisdiction to award costs for a judicial conference - Ratima - Whirinaki 3 (formerly known as Whirinaki No 1 Section 2F2C) (2015) 126 Waiariki MB 73 (126 WAR 73)

Succession - order amended - adoption and whāngai - Potangaroa - CJ 2009/43 - Golden Sarel Potangaroa (2015) 2015 Chief Judge's MB 562 (2015 CJ 562)

Succession - order amended - Hemara - Estate of Marion Gloria Puke [2015] Chief Judge's MB 611 (2015 CJ 611)

Succession - to siblings of deceased - Walker v Tonihi - The Estate of Te Aokatoa Wirihana (2015) 43 Takitimu MB 31 (43 TKT 31)

Trusts - variation of trust order - Tane - Hauturu East 8 (2015) 104 Waikato Maniapoto MB 95 (104 WMN 95)

Trusts - enforcement of trust obligations and removal of trustees - dismissed - Katu v Peni - Tiroa E and Te Hape B Trusts (2015) 127 Waiariki MB 184 (127 WAR 184)

Trusts - appointment, replacement and removal of trustees - Hill - Otakanini Māori Reservation (2015) 108 Taitokerau MB 76 (108 TTK 76)

Trusts - removal of trustee - trustee suspended - McGregor v Hutcheson - Porangahau 1B4’O’2 Trust (2015) 43 Tākitimu MB 15 (43 TKT 15)

Trusts - removal of trustees - Te Paa - Ahipara A33 (2015) 112 Taitokerau MB 299 (112 TTK 299)

Trusts - whānau trust - partial termination granted - Watene v Maynard - Bob Watene Whānau Trust (2015) 43 Takitimu MB 185 (43 TKT 185)

Occupation Order - granted - Koroi Piri Paki Whānau Trust (2015) 112 Taitokerau MB 51 (112 TTK 51)

Partition - application granted - Searancke - Lot 3 DP 427106 & Pouawa 1 Sbdn 3 Lot 2 Sec 7 Block (2015) 51 Tairawhiti MB 66 (51 TRW 66)

Procedure - change of venue refused - Ahoy v Henare - Parengarenga 3G Ahu Whenua Trust (2015) 108 Taitokerau MB 66 (108 TTK 66)

Waitangi Tribunal - Te Rōpū Whakamana i Te Tiriti o Waitangi

Waitangi Tribunal procedure - urgent inquiries - Tauranga Moana Governance Group (Wai 215, Wai 686) - Nicholas Coyle

Waitangi Tribunal procedure – urgent inquiries – Motiti Island Rena Resource Consent Funding Claim (Wai 2511) - Nicholas Coyle

Waitangi Tribunal procedure - urgent inquiries - Te Tira Whakaemi o Te Wairoa (Wai 2501) - Nicholas Coyle

Print version

Download the Māori Law Review September 2015 (541 KB PDF)

Indigenous Law Speaker Series 2015

The Treaty of Waitangi and international law - Sir Kenneth Keith delivered this seminar on 23 September 2015 at the Faculty of Law, Victoria University of Wellington

Implementing the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples – recent developments in international law - Tracey Whare delivered this seminar on 8 September 2015 at the Faculty of Law, Victoria University of Wellington

Online resources - Ngā rauemi ipurangi

Legal Māori Resource Hub - explore how Māori language has been used in legal contexts over nearly two centuries

Sir Edward Taihakurei Durie student essay competition 2015

Entries have now closed for the 2015 Sir Edward Taihakurei Durie student essay competition sponsored by the Māori Law Review. For details on the competition go here.

High Court - Te Kōti Matua

Judicial review - refusal of Waitangi Tribunal to inquire urgently upheld - Tūrāhui v Waitangi Tribunal [2015] NZHC 1624 - Stevie-Rae Hart

Māori Land Court - Te Kōti Whenua Māori

Protected objects - ownership and custody – Ngāti Rehia granted custody of taonga tūturu found in Kerikeri – Acting Chief Executive of the Ministry for Culture and Heritage - Taonga Tūturu found at Kerikeri (2015) 106 Taitokerau MB 210 (106 TTK 210)

Injunctions - occupants removed from land - Te Tumu Paeroa v Wharerau - Lot 9 DP 37339 (CFRNA971/29) (2015) 107 Taitokerau MB 262 (107 TKT 262)

Costs - District Court scale used - Kotahitanga Log Haulage Ltd v Forest Distribution Ltd - Mangaroa and other blocks Incorporated (2015) 126 Waiāriki MB 14 (126 WAR 14)

Ownership of land - whether land is General land owned by Māori - Baker v Thomas Baker Whānau Trust (2015) 41 Takitimu MB 281 (41 TKT 281)

Succession - directions sought on succession to General land owned by Māori - Jones - Pukawa D3 Trust (2015) 124 Waiariki MB 217 (124 WAR 217)

Status of land - roadway determined as Māori freehold land - Whakatāne District Council - Part Allotment Matatā Parish 6 (2015) 124 Waiariki MB 282 (124 WAR 282)

Alienation - respondent within preferred class of alienees - Foster v Wood - Taupo No. 23 B Section 1 (2015) 108 Taitokerau MB 43 (108 TTK 43)

Trusts - enforcing trustee obligations - no grounds made out - Ngatai - Tokata B8 Trustees (2015) 50 Tairawhiti MB 175 (50 TRW 175)

Trusts - application for directions and to enforce trustee obligations - Gibbs-Smith – Te Tii (Waitangi) A Maori Reservation (2015) 104 Taitokerau MB 193 (102 TTK 193)

Trusts - review and variation of trust order - Horne v Anaru - Pukehina M Sec. 2A, No Section 2B No.2 and M2D Aggregated (2015) 123 Waiariki MB 40 (123 WAR 40)

Trusts - removal of trustees - Porou – Whareongaonga 5 Trust (2015) 49 Tairawhiti MB 46 (49 TRW 46)

Trusts - removal of trustees and award of equitable compensation - Waaka v Harrison - Poike 14 (Waimapu Marae) (2015) 101 Waikato Maniapoto MB 216 (101 WMN 216)

Occupation orders - granted in the face of majority opposition - Peita –Panguru C27A2 Block (2015) 104 Taitokerau MB 5 (104 TTK 5)

Māori Incorporations - removal of members of committee of management denied - Tahata v Tahata - Proprietors of Ngāwhakatutu A1A (2015) 49 Tairawhiti MB 251 (49 TRW 251)

Title reconstruction - partition refused - insufficient support - Ogle - Mangamuka East No. 1B No. 1B (2015) 103 Taitokerau 284 (103 TTK 284)

Easements - application for right of way dismissed - Gisborne District Council v Hautapu - Tatarahake No. 1 Block (2015) 50 Tairawhiti MB 199 (50 TRW 199)

Seafood sector

Māori in the seafood sector (fisheries and aquaculture) - the year in review - Justine Inns

Legislation - Ngā Whakaturetanga

Review of Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993 – exposure draft Bill and consultation - Haratua 2015

Print version

Download the Māori Law Review August 2015 (673 KB PDF).

Indigenous Law Speaker Series 2015

Our 2015 seminars continue in Auckland during August where Tracey Whare, Bernadette Arapere and Paul Beverley will give seminars

Recent developments in co-governance and co-management - Paul Beverley talked about co-governance and co-management issues on 28 August 2015 at Buddle Findlay, Auckland

From historian to lawyer – differing perspectives - Bernadette Arapere delivered the fifth of our 2015 seminars on 20 August 2015 at the University of Auckland Faculty of Law

Implementing the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples – recent developments in international law - Tracey Whare delivered this seminar on 13 August 2015 at the University of Auckland Faculty of Law

Online resources - Ngā rauemi ipurangi

Legal Māori Resource Hub - explore how Māori language has been used in legal contexts over nearly two centuries

Sir Edward Taihakurei Durie student essay competition 2015

Entries are welcomed for the 2015 Sir Edward Taihakurei Durie student essay competition sponsored by the Māori Law Review. The competition is open until 5 p.m. Wednesday 30 September 2015. For details on the competition and how to enter go here.

High Court - Te Kōti Matua

Judicial review – refusal to make binding recommendations over forest land - Haronga v Waitangi Tribunal [2015] NZHC 1115 - Baden Vertongen

Māori Land Court - Te Kōti Whenua Māori

Ownership of dwelling - declined because house was properly a chattel in this case - Tainui - Arahura No 2A (2015) 30 Te Waipounamu MB 168 (30 TWP 168)

Costs - 80% of actual costs granted - Hettig v ANZ Bank - Kaiawhina Trust and Lot 1 Deposited Plan158328 (2015)104 Taitokerau MB 130 (104 TTK 130)

Status of land - change of status to general land declined - Gibbs - Akura 3C1A3 (2015) 41 Takitimu MB 235 (41 TKT 235)

Succession - no grant of administration - application dismissed - potential invalidity of will - Wellington v Wellington - Estate of Henare Haehae Wellington (2015) 104 Taitokerau MB 156 (104 TTK 156)

Alienation - Māori Trustee – shares purchased under the conversion fund returned to current owners – Māori Trustee v Ihaia - Omapere Taraire E & Rangihamama X3A (Aggregated) (2014) 88 Taitokerau MB 9 (88 TTK 9)

Alienation - alienation of shares declined - preferred class of alienees - Kingi - Te Maika A5 (2015) 104 Taitokerau MB 103 (104 TTK 103)

Trusts - removal of trustee following conviction - McGregor v Hutchison - Mangamaire B13A Trust (2015) 40 Tākitimu 19 (40 TKT 19)

Trusts – trustee to account for profits received in breach of duty – Savage v Adlam – Lot 39A Sec 2A Parish of Matatā (2014) 95 Waiariki MB 176 (95 WAR 176)

Easements - right of way variation granted - Mason - Te Konoti B3SB (2015) 104 Taitokerau MB 249 (104 TTK 249)

Māori Reservations – Court declined to set aside Lake Horowhenua as a Māori Reservation - Taueki v McMillan - Horowhenua 11 (Lake) (2014) 324 Aotea MB 144 (324 AOT 144)

Waitangi Tribunal - Te Rōpū Whakamana i Te Tiriti o Waitangi

From District Inquiries to Kaupapa Inquiries: a new horizon for the Waitangi Tribunal - Andrew Row

Legislation - Ngā Whakaturetanga

Review of Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993 – exposure draft Bill and consultation - Haratua 2015

Social services and welfare

Welfare and Māori - the year in review - Māmari Stephens

Print version

Download the Māori Law Review July 2015 (534 KB PDF).

Indigenous Law Speaker Series 2015

Our 2015 seminars continue in Auckland during August where Tracey Whare, Bernadette Arapere and Paul Beverley will give seminars

Implementing the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples – recent developments in international law - Tracey Whare will deliver the fourth of our 2015 seminars on 13 August 2015 at the University of Auckland Faculty of Law

Supreme Court - Te Kōti Mana Nui

Leave to appeal - leave refused - premature - Ngāti Wahiao v Ngāti Hurungaterangi,  Ngāti Taeotu Me Ngāti Te Kahu O Ngāti Whakaue [2015] NZSC 67 - Toni Love

Court of Appeal - Te Kōti Pīra

Judicial review - use of land in a Treaty settlement - Attorney-General v Ririnui [2015] NZCA 160 - Leo Watson

Māori Appellate Court - Te Kōti Pīra Māori

Occupation orders – lower Court exercised its discretion improperly - Howell v Jaram [2015] Māori Appellate Court MB 365 (2015 APPEAL 365)

Succession – nothing in Act to suggest succession must follow the male line – Keepa v Vercoe - Ruatoki B13A2A [2015] Māori Appellate Court MB 196 (2015 APPEAL 196)

Trusts – removal of trustee – order for removal set aside – Keepa v Vercoe - Ruatoki B92 [2015] Māori Appellate Court MB 189 (2015 APPEAL 189)

Costs – lower Court erred in awarding costs solely against one former trustee – Gemmell v Gemmell - Mohaka A4 Trust [2015] Māori Appellate Court MB 114 (2015 APPEAL 114)

Māori Land Court - Te Kōti Whenua Māori

Māori fisheries - criteria for coastline entitlement - Te Ohu Kaimoana Trustee Limited v Te Runanga Nui o Te Aupōuri (2015) 102 Taitokerau MB 1 (102 TTK 1)

Māori fisheries - matter bound to be referred to the Court – Te Ohu Kaimoana Trustee Limited v Te Rūnanga Nui o Te Aupouri (2014) 78 Taitokerau MB 112 (78 TTK 112)

Injunction - interim injunction granted - Davies v The Trustees of the Te Tii Waitangi B3 Ahu Whenua Trust - Lot 16 DP 61631 and Lot 18 DP 61631 (2015) 104 Taitokerau MB 139 (104 TTK 139)

Injunction - declined - dwelling on roadway not a substantial interference - Putataua Bay Holdings Limited v Pere (2015) 105 Taitokerau MB 103 (105 TTK 103)

Jurisdiction – power of Court to make orders at a judicial conference - Taunoka Trust v Trustees of the Mangaporou Trust (2015) 337 Aotea MB 131 (337 AOT 131)

Costs – special aid not a shield against a costs award - Trustees of the Horina Nepia & Te Hiwi Piahana Whānau Trust v Ngati Tukorehe Tribal Committee & Tahamata Incorporation (2014) 319 Aotea MB 238 (319 AOT 238)

Costs - unreasonable claim - reduced amount awarded - Huata-Kupa v Tataraakina C Trust - Tataraakina C Trust (2015) 40 Tākitimu MB 207

Costs - reasonable amount awarded for costs incurred - Ngamoki-Cameron - The Proprietors of Mangaroa (2015) 119 Waiariki MB 225 (119 WAR 225)

Charging orders - granted against land for unpaid rates - Kaka v Ruapehu District Council - Ohura South N2E1B (2015) 337 Aotea MB 143

Status of land - insufficient evidence to grant application to change - Wallace - Section 8B No 1 Block IV Waitara Survey District (2015) 337 Aotea MB 61 (337 AOT 61)

Trusts – trustee to account for profits received in breach of duty – Savage v Adlam – Lot 39A Sec 2A Parish of Matatā (2014) 95 Waiariki MB 176 (95 WAR 176)

Trusts – no relief from trustees' liability to reimburse - Moeahu v Winitana - Waiwhetu Pa No 4 (2014) 319 Aotea MB 166 (319 AOT 166)

Trusts - relief from liability of trustees who acted reasonably and honestly - Deputy Registrar v Trustees of Okahukura 8M2C2C2B Trust (2015) 337 Aotea MB 101 (337 AOT 101)

Trusts - application to replace trustees declined - Milne - Te Kainga O Takenui Whānau Trust (2015) 104 Taitokerau MB 28 (104 TTK 28)

Easements and roadways - non-access easement granted - Top Energy Ltd - Whakataha Z1C (2015) 104 Taitokerau MB 108 (104 TTK 108)

Waitangi Tribunal - Te Rōpū Whakamana i Te Tiriti o Waitangi

From District Inquiries to Kaupapa Inquiries: a new horizon for the Waitangi Tribunal - Andrew Row

Legislation - Ngā Whakaturetanga

Review of Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993 – exposure draft Bill and consultation - Haratua 2015

Print version

Download the Māori Law Review June 2015 (572 KB PDF).

Court of Appeal - Te Kōti Pīra

Arbitration – adjudication of mana whenua dispute made subject to arbitration - Bidois v Leef [2014] NZCA 176 - Baden Vertongen

High Court - Te Kōti Matua

Māori fisheries - mandated iwi organisations - no valid amendment to constitution of charitable trust - failure to hold trustee elections - Solomon-Rehe v Hokotehi Moriori Trust [2015] NZHC 46

Legislation - Ngā Whakaturetanga

Review of Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993 – exposure draft Bill and consultation - Haratua 2015

Māori Land Court - Te Kōti Whenua Māori

Jurisdiction:

Power of the court to grant specific performance - Kotahitanga Log Haulage Limited v Forest Distribution Limited (2015) 121 Waiariki MB 149 (121 WAR 149)

Injunction:

Mareva injunction issued over former trustees – Slade - Parengarenga 3G (2014) 87 Taitokerau MB 46

Chief Judge's powers:

Permanent injunction declined - Haimona v The Trustees of Te Karaka No 1A Ahu Whenua Trust - Te Karaka No 1A Ahu Whenua Trust and Rotoiti 3G1 Blocks (2015) Chief Judge's MB 228

Rehearing

Denying a rehearing on costs could create a possible injustice – Big Hill Station Limited v Trustees of Awarua o Hinemanu Trust – Awarua o Hinemanu Trust (2015) 39 Takitimu MB 16 (39 TKT 16)

Costs:

Some costs claimed were not reasonably incurred - Pouwhare v Auld - Oparau No 1 Block and Pirongia West 12B3D (2015) 95 Waikato Maniapoto MB 167 (95 WMN 167)

Respondent allowed to claim for management time - Manuirirangi v Parininihi ki Waitotara Incorporation - Waiokura Te Kauae blocks (2014) 319 Aotea MB 247 (319 AOT 247)

Partially granted - Goffe v ANZ Bank New Zealand Limited - Whirinaki 5K 6F (2015) 99 Taitokerau MB 248 (99 TTK 248)

Status of land:

Change from Māori freehold land to general land declined - Gilbert Family Trust - Marokopa 3 Block (2015) 97 Waikato Maniapoto MB 68 (97 WMN 68)

Land deemed General land under Māori Affairs Act 1953 – Coast Law - Allotment 266A3C2 Waimana Parish Block (2014) 103 Waiariki MB 270

Trusts:

Termination of trust and vesting assets in another trust - Trustees of Te Ngae Farm Trust v Trustees of Ngāti Rangiteaorere Koromatua Council - Te Ngae Farm Trust (2015) 118 Waiariki MB 92 (118 WAR 92)

Review of trust and removal of advisory trustees – trustees ordered to refund payments received in breach of trust – Tupe Snr v Everton - Manunui No 1 4th Residue Ahu Whenua Trust (2015) 334 Aotea MB 227 (334 AOT 227)

Review of trust and removal of trustees - Raukawa v Lux - Te Oitahuna Raukawa Whānau Trust (2015) 116 Waiariki MB 288

Review of trust and removal of trustees - Worsnop v Lux - Honeri Raukawa Whānau Trust (2015) 117 Waiariki MB 3

Removal of trustee - Worsnop v Lux - Ruarakai-Tokomanawa Lands Trust (2015) 117 Waiariki MB 26

Removal of trustees declined – trustees were shown to have been diligent and hard working - Olsen v Vercoe - Matata Parish Lot 6A (2015) 116 Waiariki MB 63 (116 WAR 63)

Recovery of trust funds and removal of trustees - Pue v Kīngi - Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Maru (Taranaki) Whenua Tōpu Trust (2015) 355 Aotea MB 1 (355 AOT 1)

Proposal to constitute ahu whenua trust over 11 separate blocks adjourned and general guidance issued – Far North District Council - Okahu 3B2B2 (2014) 91 Taitokerau MB 284 (91 TTK 284)

Ahu whenua trusts – Registrar to maintain record of beneficial ownership of General land - Larsen - Tanumi Reti (2014) 88 Taitokerau MB 273 (88 TTK 273)

Occupation orders:

Applicant had transferred right to occupy - Tawera v Tawera – Waitangi A1A2 (2014) 39 Tairawhiti MB 45 (39 TRW 45)

Māori reservations:

Inquiry granted into administration - Powell - Tunapahore 6 (2015) 118 Waiariki MB 150

Removal of trustees - trustee encouraged to resign - Royal v Broughton - Muhunoa 3A1E1 Sub 8A (Kikopiri Marae Māori Reservation) (2014) 325 Aotea MB 250 (325 AOT 250)

Gazette Notice was not confusing or uncertain – Murray - Mahinepua B1 (2014) 87 Taitokerau MB 227 (87 TTK 227)

Succession:

Whether persons were whāngai and disposition of Māori land on intestacy - Pomare - Peter Here Pomare (2015) 103 Taitokerau MB 95 (103 TTK 95)

Maori incorporations:

Fresh election for committee of management - Whata - The Proprietors of Ruahine Kuharua Incorporation (2015) 120 Waiariki MB 204 (120 WAR 204)

Partition:

No reasonable alternative to partition given urbanisation of owners - Opai - Kohatutaka 6A10D2C (2014) 93 Taitokerau MB 6 (93 TTK 6)

Procedure:

Withdrawal of an application to the Court - Dawson v Dawson - Orohaki 894B Ahu Whenua Trust (2015) 29 Te Waipounamu MB 161

Refusal to waive application fee reversed - Wilson - Oue 2B3 and other blocks (2015) 2015 Chief Judge's MB 215 (2015 CJ 215)

Waitangi Tribunal - Te Rōpū Whakamana i te Tiriti o Waitangi

Application for urgent remedies hearing and urgent inquiry declined - Ahitahi/Araukuku Hapū Claim (Wai 552, #2.35)

Canada - Ontario Court of Justice

Life or death, and traditional medicine – primacy of indigenous rights - Hamilton Health Sciences Corporation v DH 2014 ONCJ 603 - Andrew Row

Book review - Arotakenga pukapuka

Are We There Yet? The Future of the Treaty of Waitangi: A Review - Max Harris

Moving beyond a legalistic approach to applying the Treaty of Waitangi in contemporary New Zealand - Gareth Morgan and Susan Guthrie

Are We There Yet? The Future of the Treaty of Waitangi: A response to Morgan and Guthrie - Max Harris

Print version

Download the Māori Law Review May 2015 (669 KB PDF).

Indigenous Law Speaker Series 2015

Criminal Justice, the State and Māori - Kim Workman, 2015 J. D. Stout Fellow, will deliver the third of our 2015 seminars on 28 May 2015 at the Faculty of Law, Victoria University of Wellington

Recent developments in co-governance and co-management - Paul Beverley will deliver the second seminar for 2015 on 21 May 2015 at the Faculty of Law, Victoria University of Wellington

Ko te manu e kai ana i te mātauranga - nōnā te ao: overseas postgraduate reflections - Horiana Irwin Easthope and Natalie Coates will deliver the first of our 2015 seminars on 7 May 2015 at the Faculty of Law, Victoria University of Wellington

Public lecture - Auckland

The Implementation of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples: Implications for Aotearoa/New Zealand - Professor James Anaya, University of Arizona, will deliver this public lecture on 11 June 2015 at Old Government House, Auckland

Court of Appeal - Te Kōti Pīra

Trusts - variation - Appellate Court decision upheld - The Te Aute Trust Board v Hauraki [2014] NZCA 532

Māori Land Court - Te Kōti Whenua Māori

Recovery of land  - Trustees in the section 14 block XIII Tautuku Trust v Cairns - Part Section 3 Block XIII Tautuku Survey District (2015) 29 Te Waipounamu 48 (29 TWP 48)

Recovery of land – injunction to accompany recovery order – Henry v Wood - Part Whakanekeneke 1B (2014) 85 Taitokerau MB 175

Alienation - gifts - gift declined for contravening kaupapa of Act - Smith - Hauai 2D8 (2015) 99 Taitokerau MB 200

Partition – orders to give effect to a hybrid partition - Heta - Taiharuru 4C3B (2015) 99 Taitokerau MB 164

Partition - dismissed - insufficient support and benefit - Te Ngahue v the Proprietors of Whetumatarau B45B2 (Pohutu Station) (2015) 47 Tairawhiti MB 81

Partition - order granted by a narrow margin - Reo v Reo - Whangaruru Whakaturia ID9B1 and other blocks (2015) 100 Taitokerau MB 156

Partition - final orders after survey - Chase-Seymour - Paenoa Te Akau (2015) 114 Waiariki MB 195

Partition and establishment of ahu whenua trust - Horan - Hiwarau C (2015) 118 Waiariki MB 25 (118 WAR 25)

Land exchange - costs and change of status - Whooley - Ngaiotonga 1B1 and 2B1 and Lots 1 - 2, and 3 DP383105 (2015) 99 Taitokerau MB 138

Trusts - application for review of the Parehuia June Durie Kaitiaki Trust - Deputy Registrar v Graham - Parehuia June Durie Kaitiaki Trust (2015) 334 Aotea MB 201

Trusts - breach of trustee duties - Trustees of the Rowallan Block XIII Sections 1 and 5 Ahu Whenua Trusts v Orbell – Rowallan Block XIII Sections 1 and 5 (2015) 28 Te Waipounamu MB 37

Trusts - application to enforce obligations of trust against the trustees of Purekawa A Trust - Whare v Trustees of Pukerewa A Trust – Pukerewa A Block (2015) 95 Waikato Maniapoto MB 105

Māori Incorporations – no investigation warranted – Floyd v The Proprietors of Hauhungaroa 2C Block Incorporation Committee of Management - Hauhungaroa 2C Incorporation (2014) 325 Aotea MB 42 (325 AOT 42)

Waitangi Tribunal - Te Rōpū Whakamana i te Tiriti o Waitangi

Waitangi Tribunal procedure - Tribunal revokes priority hearing on prisoner voting - Directions of the Deputy Chairperson Rescinding Grant of Priority in the Electoral (Disqualification of Sentenced Prisoners) Amendment Act Claim (2015 Wai 2472, #2.5.11)

Book review - Arotakenga pukapuka

Are We There Yet? The Future of the Treaty of Waitangi: A Review - Max Harris

Moving beyond a legalistic approach to applying the Treaty of Waitangi in contemporary New Zealand - Gareth Morgan and Susan Guthrie

Are We There Yet? The Future of the Treaty of Waitangi: A response to Morgan and Guthrie - Max Harris

Print version

Download the Māori Law Review April 2015 (577 KB PDF).

Court of Appeal - Te Kōti Pīra

Arbitration - special leave to appeal Whakarewarewa dispute - Ngāti Hurungaterangi v Ngāti Wāhiao [2014] NZCA 592

High Court - Te Kōti Matua

Strike-out application – Mixed Ownership Model companies – sale of private land - Chetham v Mighty River Power Ltd [2014] NZHC 3202

Māori Land Court - Te Kōti Whenua Māori

Ownership - boundary dispute over Māori freehold land - Paniora v Kereopa – Waipoua 2B3D2A2A and Waipoua 2B3D2A2B2C (2015) 99 Taitokerau MB 227 (99 TTK 227)

Injunctions - interim injunction granted - Hill v Smith - Motatau 2 Section 21B1B1 and Motatau 2 Section 21B1B2 (2015) 99 Taitokerau MB 98

Chief Judge's powers - application to amend Taukihepa order refused - Wright v Ngamoki-Cameron - Aperahama Hutoitoi (2015) Chief Judge's MB 108

Determination as to whether land is held in a fiduciary capacity declined - Reweti v Tautari - Lot 1 Depositied Plan 150873 and lot 2 Deposited Plan 150873 being part Waikoukou No 406 (2015) 96 Taitokerau MB 231

Status of land - change from Māori freehold land to general land - Swanson - Waotu South C No 6B (2014) 110 Waiariki MB 187

Trusts – removal – trustee removed after failing to attend meetings without reasonable excuse - Hape v Smith - Part Te Pupuke K No 2 (Māori Reservation) (2015) 99 Taitokerau MB 174 (99 TTK 174)

Trusts - appointment of advisory trustees declined for Māori reservation land - Todd - Mahinepua B1 (2015) 98 Taitokerau MB 257

Trusts - court appointment of trustee and ownership of a building on trust land - Gray - Mohaka A4 Trust Māori Land Court (2014) 36 Takitimu MB 254

Trusts - establishment of an ahu whenua trust over 10 Okahu land blocks - Far North District Council - Okahu 2B2B2 (2015) 97 Taitokerau MB 234

Trusts - ahu whenua trust approved - Napia - Waihou A No 2A No1 (2015) 97 Taitokerau MB 212

Trusts - termination of whānau trust - Millanta v Millanta-Lowrey - Ngaki Tukaki Millanta Whānau Trust (2015) 333 Aotea MB 38

Succession - amendment to order declined - Smallman - Te Rangi Kaiamokura (2015) 2015 Chief Judge's MB 188 (2015 CJ 188)

Procedure - without notice application to seal part of an order under appeal - Barnes v Adlam - Matata Parish 39A 2A Ahu Whenua Trust (2015) 112 Waiariki MB 296

Procedure - recusal of judge for bias – request for recusal declined - Maruera v Te Ohu Kaimoana Trustee Ltd - Ngāti Maru (Taranaki) Fisheries Trust (2015) 335 Aotea MB 47 (335 AOT 47)

Procedure - joinder – likely future owner of property joined to access proceedings – Stevenson Group Ltd - Wharetoto 2C and Wharetoto 2D (2015) 334 Aotea MB 19 (334 AOT 19)

Resource Management - Ngā Whakahaere Rauemi

Māori interests in natural resource management - 2014 in review by Thaddeus Ryan and Annie O'Conner

Legislation - Ngā Whakaturetanga

Review of Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993 – advisory group appointed

Print version

Download the Māori Law Review March 2015 (638 KB PDF).

Court of Appeal - Te Kōti Pīra

Equity and trusts - private law obligations not owed; standing to bring claims - Proprietors of Wakatū v Attorney-General [2014] NZCA 628

Judicial Review – Appeal – registration of wāhi tapu – extension of boundary - Waikanae Christian Holiday Park Incorporated v New Zealand Historic Places Trust Maori Heritage Council [2015] NZCA 23

Procedure - leave to appeal refused - Rangitukunoa v Koning [2015] NZCA 24

High Court - Te Kōti Matua

Takutai moana - procedure - amended application - further notification - Re Tipene [2015] NZHC 169

Māori Land Court - Te Kōti Whenua Māori

Status of land - change from general land to Māori freehold land - Owhetu Block Charitable Trust - Lot 1 Deposited Plan 427145 (2015) 98 Taitokerau MB 242

Ownership determination - rightful owner of transferred shares - Trustees of the Horina Nepia & Te Hiwi Piahana Whānau Trust v Ngāti Tukorehe Tribal Committee & Tahamatā Incorporation (2014)314 Aotea MB 159

Injunction - interim injunction preventing a grant of a lease declined - Paerau - Te Komiti 1B2B2 Ahu Whenua Trust (2015) 95 Taitokerau MB 280

Injunction – no equitable relief where applicant arbitrarily refused to engage in processes – Trustees of Maungatautari 4G Section IV Block v Maungatautari Ecological Island Trust - Maungatautari 4G Section IV Block (2014) 90 Waikato Maniapoto MB 291

Injunction – no evidence of actual or potential breach of trustee duties – Smith v The Māori Trustee - Waipaoa 5A2 Block (2014) 44 Tairāwhiti MB 104

Costs - award made for a reasonable contribution to the costs actually and reasonably incurred - Smith v The Proprietors of Mangaroa and other blocks (2015) 113 Waiariki MB 1

Trusts - approval of a majority of trustees granting a lease and a mortgage - Tane – Te Tii (Waitangi) B3 (2015) 95 Taitokerau MB 261

He poroporoaki - farewell

Professor Alan Dudley Ward - by Dr D M Loveridge

Sir Edward Taihakurei Durie student essay competition 2014

Not giving ground: Patricia Grace’s successful opposition to compulsory acquisition of her ancestral land - Anna Brenstrum

Print version

Download the Māori Law Review February 2015 (574 KB PDF).

Māori Appellate Court - Te Kōti Pīra Māori

Chief Judge’s powers – no error of law or jurisdiction in order creating roadway over Māori reservation – The Trustees of the Tauwhao Te Ngare Trust v Shaw [2014] Māori Appellate Court MB 394

Māori Land Court - Te Kōti Whenua Māori

Injunctions

Injunction – granted in part - respondents allowed to occupy land until substantive hearing - Joe Atama Adams Pomare Whānau Trust v Adams - Waiaua A1C (2014) 93 Taitokerau MB 253 (93 TTK 253)

Trusts: 

Partial termination of whānau trust refused – Larkins v Hurae and Ngawaiata Whānau Trust - Waihou Hutoia D2A (2015) 94 Taitokerau MB 120

Appointment of trustees - following 14 years of interim trusteeship – Paora - Te Tii Waitangi A (Waitangi Marae) (2015) 94 Taitokerau MB 134

Appointment of trustees – appointment delayed in light of allegations of impropriety – Kīngi v Eru - Whakapoungakau 24 (2014)

Appointment of trustees  – election in accordance with marae charter – Bigham v Budd - Waiokura Marae and Reserves Trust (2014) 331 Aotea MB 151

Australia - Federal Circuit Court

Family law - parenting orders - relocation - connection to indigenous community - Chesterfield & Brent [2014] FCCA 787

Māori Appellate Court - Te Kōti Pīra Māori

2014 Māori Appellate Court judgments - index

Māori Land Court - Te Kōti Whenua Māori

2014 Māori Land Court judgments - index

Ownership of land – land a public road – Trustees of Paenoa Te Akau Trust v Taupō District Council - Paenoa Te Akau (2014) 108 Waiariki MB 261 (108 WAR 261)

Chief Judge's powers – orders vesting urupā cancelled – Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa v Paul - Otara o Muturangi [2014] Chief Judge's MB 615

Chief Judge's powers - application to amend or cancel succession order granted - McCallum v The Maori Trustee of Whanganui - Estate of Ngapiki Waaka Hakaraia (2014) 2014 Chief Judge's MB 541

Status of land – no change to General land to facilitate sale - Skudder - Tahorakuri A No 1 Sec 8B and Lot 1 DP South Auckland 63822 (2014) 109 Waiariki MB 203

Incorporations - new election called for committee of management due to invalid election - Hutchison - Torere 64 Incorporation (2014) 109 Waiariki MB 260

Incorporations - licence to occupy - objective approach to dealings - Pohatu v Muriwhenua Incorporation - Te Hapua 42 (2014) 91 Taitokerau MB 251

Partition - hybrid partition for all owners - Heta - Taiharuru 4C3B (2014) 88 Taitokerau MB 136

Partition - insufficient support and unnecessary - MacDonald v MacDonald - Wairau Blk.XII Sec. 6C 2C (2014) 27 Te Waipounamu MB 68

Partition, ownership - conditional partition upheld - Morrison - Te Kaha No.2C Block (2014) 105 Waiariki MB 183

Trusts – Court will not interfere where trustee adheres to trust order and acts prudently – Albert v Te Tumu Paeroa - Omaio 39 (2014) 110 Waiariki MB 119

Injunction – no jurisdiction to grant injunctive relief - Hettig v ANZ Bank of New Zealand Ltd - Lot 1 Deposited Plan 158328, CT NA95A/121 (2014) 93 Taitokerau MB 238 (93 TTK 238)

Roadway – land never proclaimed as a roadline remains Māori land - Rice - Part Rangiuru No2A Roadway (2014) 107 Waiariki MB 148 (107 WAR 148)

Waitangi Tribunal - Te Rōpū Whakamana i Te Tiriti o Waitangi

Crown review of Māori Community Development Act and Māori Wardens breaches Treaty principles - Whaia te Mana Motuhake / In Pursuit of Mana Motuhake: Report on the Māori Community Development Act Claim (Wai 2417, 2014)

Taonga waterways - Lake Waikaremoana - Te Urewera Part 5 (Wai 894. 2014)

Legislation - Ngā Whakaturetanga

Treaty settlement legislation before the House of Representatives in 2014 - Dr Carwyn Jones

United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues

Indigenous Peoples’ Good Governance, Human Rights and Self-Determination in the Second Decade of the New Millennium – A Māori Perspective by Dr Robert Joseph

Print version

Download the Māori Law Review December 2014 (667 KB PDF).

General Election - Te Pōtitanga Whānui

2014 General Election and government formation

High Court - Te Kōti Matua

High Court appoints Māori trustees to dysfunctional Crown Forestry Rental Trust - New Zealand Māori Council & Ors v Foulkes & Ors [2014] NZHC 2757

Māori Appellate Court - Te Kōti Pira Māori

Special Aid - special circumstances justifying an award being granted retrospectively - Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Hine v Te Rūnanga a Iwi o Ngāpuhi - Special Aid [2014] 2014 Māori Appellate Court MB 133

Jurisdiction - Court has jurisdiction to award equitable remedies - Mikaere-Toto v Te Reti B and C Residue Trust - Te Reti B and Te Reti C [2014] 2014 Māori Appellate Court MB 249

Māori Land Court - Te Kōti Whenua Māori

Jurisdiction – Court can hear claims for relief relating to Crown land or General land – Trustees of Te Waiti 2C2 v Allison - Te Waiti No2C No2 (2014) 107 Waiariki MB 115 (107 WAR 115)

Injunction – refused - no serious question to be tried - Falwasser v Olsen - Matata Parish 6A (2014) 107 Waiariki MB 74 (107 WAR 74)

Chief Judge's powers – application of "ten pound rule" not erroneous – Scott - Erueti Te Karu [2014] Chief Judge's MB 260

Rehearing – the Court could not be satisfied the applicant was notified of the original application - Kaka v Ruapehu District Council - Ohura South N2E1B (2014) 328 Aotea MB 176 (328 AOT 176)

Rehearing – application declined as it was evident the earlier orders would be affirmed - Fisher v Potroz - Mohakatino Paraninihi No 1C West 3A2 (2014) 328 Aotea MB 225 (328 AOT 225)

Succession – adoptive brother entitled to further interests consistent with earlier decision - Wawatai (Tate) - Te Raana Waiti (2014) 88 Taitokerau MB 233 (88 TTK 233)

Trusts – ahu whenua – partial termination granted - Moetara - Pakanae 2Y3A (2014) 88 Taitokerau MB 242 (88 TTK 242)

Trusts – partial termination, constitution of ahu whenua trust, appointment of trustees – The Māori Trustee v O'Rorke - Pukekohatu 7B (2014) 329 Aotea MB 79

Trusts - preliminary determination as to whether the doctirne of estoppel applies - Waaka - Te Manawa o Tuhoe A block (2014) 103 Waiariki MB 2

Trusts - review of trust and meetings - owners followed correct procedure - Morris - Ngapini and Tarawa Trust (2014) 36 Takitimu MB 186

Trusts – removal of trustees – attempt to stop a mortgagee sale – Moanaroa v Ruwhiu - The Kaiawhina Trust (2014) 91 Taitokerau MB 29 (91 TTK 29)

Trusts – inappropriate to allow application for appointment of trustees to be withdrawn - Graham - Waihou-Hutoia X Māori Reservation (Piki Te Aroha Marae) (2014) 88 Taitokerau MB 258 (88 TTK 258)

Title and occupation – recovery of possession, permanent injunction and compensation - Trustees of Ihaka Whaanga Whānau Trust v Whaanga - Town Section 90 Mahia and Town Section 91 Mahia (2014) 42 Tairāwhiti MB 292

Occupation orders - orders for housing purposes only - Davis - Ahipara A8B (2014) 88 Taitokerau MB 186

Waitangi Tribunal - Te Rōpū Whakamana i Te Tiriti o Waitangi

Treaty of Waitangi signatories did not cede sovereignty in February 1840 - He Whakaputanga me te Tiriti: the Declaration and the Treaty (2014, Wai 1040)

He Whakaputanga me te Tiriti: the Declaration and the Treaty - sovereignty in February 1840 - comment by Professor D V Williams

Urgent Waitangi Tribunal inquiries - Ngāpuhi mandate and Whanganui River applications - by Dr Carwyn Jones

Indigenous Law Speaker Series 2014

Rangatahi Courts of Aotearoa New Zealand - an update - Judge Heemi Taumaunu

Māori Law Review news

Exploring Māori legal traditions: Te hōpara i ngā tikanga ture Māori - Māori Law Review co-editor Dr Carwyn Jones has been awarded a Marsden Fund Fast-Start Grant. He will focus on identifying Māori legal principles from a range of cultural expressions such as waiata (songs), whakairo (carvings), karakia (prayers/chants), and kōrero pūrākau (stories)

Prestigious Canada Research Chair - Māori Law Review consultant editor Professor John Borrows has been named Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Law

All Souls College Examination Fellowship - Māori Law Review contributor Max Harris has been elected an Examination Fellow at All Souls College, Oxford

Sir Edward Taihakurei Durie student essay competition 2014 - Anna Brenstrum, an undergraduate law student at Otago University, has won the 2014 competition

Student editor 2015 - Toni Love is our next student editor

Research on Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993 - Nathalie Harrington (Summer Research Scholar) and Stevie-Rae Hart (Research Assistant) will be working with us on a project over Summer looking at the jurisprudence of the Māori Land Court under Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993

Print version

Download the Māori Law Review November 2014 (804 KB PDF).

Tūhoe-Crown Settlement

Historical background to the Tūhoe-Crown Settlement by Dr Vincent O'Malley

Te Wharehou o Tūhoe: The house that ‘we’ built by Professor Rawinia Higgins

Address on Tūhoe-Crown Settlement Day by Hon Christopher Finlayson, Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations (link to New Zealand Government website)

Tūhoe-Crown settlement - Tūhoe Claims Settlement Act 2014; Te Urewera report of the Waitangi Tribunal by Dr Carwyn Jones

Te Urewera Act 2014 by Dr Jacinta Ruru

A transforming dawn? The Service Management Plan by Māmari Stephens

Indigenous Law Speaker Series 2014

Rangatahi Courts of Aotearoa/New Zealand - Judge Taumaunu delivered the most recent of our 2014 lunchtime seminars on 24 September 2014 at the Faculty of Law, Victoria University of Wellington.

Māori Law Review news

Sir Edward Taihakurei Durie student essay competition 2014 - Anna Brenstrum, an undergraduate law student at Otago University, has won the 2014 competition.

Student editor 2015 - are you our next student editor? Applications close on 24 October

Print version

Download the Māori Law Review October 2014 (559 KB PDF).

Supreme Court - Te Kōti Mana Nui

Customary title to waterways – Paki v Attorney-General (No 2) [2014] NZSC 118 by Baden Vertongen

Customary title to waterways - Paki v Attorney-General (No 2) [2014] NZSC 118 - comment by Tom Bennion

Customary title to waterways - Paki v Attorney-General (No 2) [2014] NZSC 118 - further comment by Professor Richard Boast

High Court - Te Kōti Matua

Summary judgment application - succession - Mulder v Heke [2014] NZHC 2098

Māori Land Court - Te Kōti Whenua Māori

Injunctions – application adjourned so parties could try to resolve outstanding issues - Trustees of Maungatautari 4G Sec IV v Maungatautari Ecological Island Trust - Maungatautari No 4G Sec IV (2014) 86 Waikato Maniapoto MB 248 (86 TTK 248)

Chief Judge’s powers – determining the interests of justice – Riwai Mokena v Riwai Morgan Whānau Trust - Estate of Tamati Mokena [2014] Chief Judge’s MB 314

Māori reservations – creating a reservation in the face of a possible public works acquisition of land - Grace – Ngarara West A25B2A (2014) 317 Aotea MB 268

Māori reservations – land set aside as urupā – Graham - Parish of Komakorau Lot 240B 2 (2014) 80 Waikato Maniapoto MB 260

Trusts - appointment of replacement trustees - Pene-Stevens - Puhatikotiko 2C2B2 and 2D (2014) 41 Tairawhiti MB 219

Occupation orders - order declined where majority of trustees opposed application - Wairua - Maungaroa No.1 Section 2B Block (2014) 103 Waiariki MB 133

Occupation orders / partition - Court granted occupation order of its own motion - Matchitt - Te Kaha 65 (2014) 104 Waiariki MB 145

Occupation orders - order amended - Howell v Jaram - Omaio 43 Section 4 (2014) 104 Waiariki MB 73

Partition - cancellation – grounds satisfied to reconfigure titles - Thompson - Hauai Ahu Whenua Trust (2014) 87 Taitokerau MB 258 (87 TTK 258)

Costs - award made against former trustees - Hall v Opepe Farm Trust (2014) 104 Waiariki MB 54

Environment Court - Te Kōti Taiao

Public works - proposed taking not fair, sound or reasonably necessary - Grace v Minister for Land Information [2014] NZEnvC 82

Waitangi Tribunal - Te Rōpū Whakamana i te Tiriti o Waitangi

Waitangi Tribunal to inquire in mid-2015 into prohibition on prisoner voting - Wai 2472 - the Electoral (Disqualification of Sentenced Prisoners) Amendment Act Claim (Wai 2472, 2.5.3)

Indigenous Law Speaker Series 2014

Lex Aotearoa - Hon Justice Joseph Williams delivered the most recent of our 2014 lunchtime seminars on 21 August 2014 at the Faculty of Law, Victoria University of Wellington.

Māori Law Review news

Sir Edward Taihakurei Durie student essay competition 2014 - this competition is now open. Entries close on 1 October 2014.

Print version

Download the Māori Law Review September 2014 (615 KB PDF).

Editorial

Strategic direction for a busy future by Judge Craig Coxhead

Supreme Court of Canada

Aboriginal Title - Tsilhqot’in v. British Columbia [2014] SCC 44 by Professor John Borrows

High Court

Takutai moana – procedure - leave to participate given to interested party - Re Tipene [2014] NZHC 2046

Takutai moana – procedure - interested party status accepted - Tangiora v Attorney-General [2014] NZHC 2049

Māori Land Court

Rights in Māori freehold land – constructive trust to recognise equitable interest - Tipene v Tipene – Motatau 2 Section 49A4F (2014) 85 Taitokerau MB 2 (85 TTK 2)

Injunction – interim injunction granted to ensure access over roadway - Putataua Bay Holdings Ltd - Roadway Order Instrument 7895326.1 (2014) 84 Taitokerau MB 229 (84 TTK 229)

Costs – justice best served if costs lie where they fall - Trustees of Kapenga H v Lidgard - Kapenga H (2014) 101 Waiariki MB 267 (101 WAR 267)

Occupation orders - grant made on basis of discussion between majority owners - Smith - Taheke 2 Block (2014) 84 Taitokerau MB 166

Succession – whāngai not entitled to an absolute interest – Bennett - Estate of Ronald Clifford Bennett (2014) 101 Waiariki MB 290 (101 WAR 290)

Succession – whāngai not entitled to succeed - Taylor v Taylor - Estate of Waerena Taylor (2014) 102 Waiariki MB 258 (102 WAR 258)

Incorporations – Muriwhenua Incorporation ordered to hold new elections – Neho - Muriwhenua Incorporation (2014) 84 Taitokerau MB 189 (84 TTK 189)

Procedure – decision confirmed as final determination - Matthews v Matthews - Graham Ngahina Matthews (2014) 323 Aotea MB 191 (323 AOT 191)

Waitangi Tribunal

Active protection - The Interim Report on the MV Rena and Motiti Island Claims (Pre-publication) (Wai 2391, 2393, 2014) by Dr Carwyn Jones

Indigenous Law Speaker Series 2014

Lex Aotearoa - Hon Justice Joseph Williams delivered the most recent of our 2014 lunchtime seminars on 21 August 2014 at the Faculty of Law, Victoria University of Wellington.

Māori Law Review news

Sir Edward Taihakurei Durie student essay competition 2014 - this competition is now open. Entries close on 1 October 2014.

Print version

Download the Māori Law Review August 2014 (509 KB PDF).

Supreme Court

Trustee conflicts of interest - Naera v Fenwick [2014] NZSC 58

High Court

Judicial review - unlawful delegation of Waitangi Tribunal decisions - Baker v Waitangi Tribunal [2014] NZHC 1176 by Leo H Watson

Judicial review – use of land in a Treaty settlement – Ririnui v Landcorp Farming Limited and others [2014] NZHC 1128 by Leo H Watson

Māori Appellate Court

Injunctions - Taueki v Horowhenua Sailing Club – Horowhenua 11 (Lake) Block [2014] Māori Appellate Court MB 60 by Craig Linkhorn

Trusts – variation  - Clarke v Downs - Lake Taupō Forest Trust [2014] 2014 Māori Appellate Court MB 16 by Craig Linkhorn

Māori Land Court

Injunctions - interim injunction declined - not safe to grant without notice - Putataua Bay Holdings Ltd v Pere - Lot 189 DP 393664 (2014) 82 Taitokerau MB 139

Trusts - removal - adjournment granted - Cotter - Okaihau No 3C No 2 (2014) 32 Takitimu MB 168

Trusts - marae an appropriate meeting venue - Eru v Kīngi - Whakapoungakau 24 (2014) 101 Waiariki MB 1

Costs - award made against the sole surviving trustee - Gemmell v Gemmell - Mohaka A4 Trust (2014) 32 Takitimu MB 174

Procedure - joinder - granted to aid proper investigation into alleged breaches - Bailey v The Māori Trustee - Te Riri A Te Hore 2 (2014) 322 Aotea MB 67

Seafood sector

Māori in the seafood sector (fisheries and aquaculture) – the year in review by Justine Inns

Indigenous Law Speaker Series 2014

Constitutional development and decolonisation in the South Pacific - Professor Tony Angelo from Victoria University of Wellington will deliver the next of our 2014 lunchtime seminars on 31 July 2014 at the Faculty of Law, Victoria University of Wellington.

Print version

Download the Māori Law Review July 2014 (496 KB PDF).

High Court

Judicial review – use of land in a Treaty settlement – Ririnui v Landcorp Farming Limited and others [2014] NZHC 1128 by Leo H Watson

Arbitration - mana whenua - application for leave to appeal dismissed - questions not seriously arguable - Ngāti Hurungaterangi, Ngāti Taeotu Me Ngāti Te Kahu O Ngāti Whakaue v Ngāti Wahiao [2014] NZHC 846 - Toni Love

Māori Land Court

Alienation – proposed mortgage contravened Te Ture Whenua Māori Act and breached statutory trust - Sanders v King - Part Parish of Whangape Lot 15B and Parish of Whangape Lot 15C (Urupā) (2014) 81 Waikato Maniapoto MB 109

Succession - entitlement to succeed compromised in consideration of a loan - Deputy Registrar - Orohaki 894B (2014) 24 Te Waipounamu MB 298

Procedure – Court has broad jurisdiction to seek and receive evidence - Nicholls v Nicholls - The W T Nicholls Trust (2014) 78 Waikato Maniapoto MB 107 (78 WMN 107)

Seafood sector

Māori in the seafood sector (fisheries and aquaculture) – the year in review by Justine Inns

Print version

Download the Māori Law Review June 2014 (480 KB PDF).

High Court

Use of land held for public works in Treaty of Waitangi settlements - Kane v Attorney-General [2014] NZHC 251 by Lisa Hansen

Māori Land Court

Injunctions - interim injunction extended - Williams v Trustees of the Hokio Part A Ahu Whenua Trust - Part Hokio A Section 1-4 (2014) 321 Aotea MB 24 (321 AOT 24)

Trusts - recovery of trust property - jurisdiction - interim decision that dispute relates to Māori land – Gemmell v Gemmell - Mohaka A4 Trust (2014) 32 Takitimu MB 63 (32 TKT 63)

Trusts - management - trust adhering to order and acting prudently - Eriha v Munro - Kairakau Lands Trust (2014) 32 Takitimu MB 84

Trusts - appointment of trustees – block voting appropriate in Māori trusts – Sigley - Te Tii (Waitangi) B3 Trust (2014) 80 Taitokerau MB 233

Partition - urgent directions sought on 2009 orders - Studer - Rangitaiki Allotment 28C1 (2014) 97 Waiariki MB 294

Incorporation – no need to conduct investigation – Bennett v Proprietors of the Waipiro A22B3 Incorporation - Waipiro A22B3 Block (2014) 39 Tairāwhiti MB 257

Charging orders - granted - no response from owners - Ruapehu District Council - Ohura South A3E2C3B2A Block XIII Tuhua Survey District (2014) 321 Aotea MB 95

Alienation – leases - milking plant a fixture remaining on expiry of lease – Māori Trustee v Lidgard - Kapenga H (2014) 97 Waiariki MB 282 (97 WAR 282)

Settlements

Ruruku Whakatupua Te Mana o te Awa Tupua - Upholding the Mana of the Whanganui River by Linda Te Aho

Book reviews

Tikanga Māori - Te Mātāpunenga – A Compendium of References to the Concepts and Institutions of Māori Customary Law - reviewed by Matiu Dickson

He Papakupu Reo Ture: A Dictionary of Māori Legal Terms - reviewed by Pānia Papa

Events

Te Hunga Rōia Māori o Aotearoa update - two conferences in 2014 outlined by Renika Siciliano

Print version

Download the Māori Law Review May 2014 (508 KB PDF).

Māori Land Court

Public works – offer back to successors of prior owners – The Property Group – Awapuni 1F3 (2014) 38 Tairawhiti MB 209 (38 TRW 209)

Jurisdiction – Court has jurisdiction to grant equitable remedies – Urwin v Te Kura – Te Reti B and Te Reti C Block (2014) 74 Waikato Maniapoto MB 277 (74 WMN 277)

Trusts - trustees replaced as they no longer command the support of the owners - Sullivan v Sullivan-Teepa – Te Haroto 2B2B Trust (2014) 31 Takitimu MB 138

Status of land and indefeasibility – Crown grant extinguished customary title - Moananui v Cape Kidnappers Station Limited - Rangaika Native Reserve, Cape Kidnappers (2014) 31 Tākitimu MB 179

Partition – declined - insufficient support and unnecessary - Patu – Tōrere Section 58 (2014) 95 Waiariki MB 230 (95 WAR 230)

Partition - declined - insufficient support and unnecessary - Melrose – Torere Section 64 Incorporation (2014) 94 Waiariki MB 28

Occupation orders - order granted in spite of objections - Hata - Opape 3C3B (2014) 95 Waiariki MB 60

Occupation orders - order not granted where there was limited support - Jahnke - Waipiro M T Sec.5 Blk X (2014) 38 Tairawhiti MB 274

Waitangi Tribunal

Remedies - the Mangatū Remedies Report (Wai 814, 2013) by Dr Carwyn Jones

Remedies - analysis of the Mangatū Remedies Report (Wai 814, 2013) by Baden Vertongen

Rights to water - the Tribunal's final report on Te Kāhui Maunga: The National Park District Inquiry Report (Wai 1130, 2013) by Dr Jacinta Ruru

Legislation

Review of Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993 – final report and recommendations from the independent review panel

Book review

Tikanga Māori - Te Mātāpunenga – A Compendium of References to the Concepts and Institutions of Māori Customary Law - reviewed by Matiu Dickson

Indigenous Law Speaker Series 2013

Indigenous on the Margins by Eileen Luna-Firebaugh

Print version

Download the Māori Law Review April 2014 (552 KB PDF).

Supreme Court

Criminal law, the use of force in defence of property - standing up for a fragile lake - Taueki v R [2013] NZSC 146

High Court

Status of land - Jensen v Registrar General of Land [2013] NZHC 3525

Māori Land Court

Injunction – preliminary determination of ownership of dwelling – Akura Lands Trust v Te Whata - Akura 1C 3B 2 (2014) 29 Tākitimu MB 199

Chief Judge's powers – erroneous exclusion from succession – MacFarlane v Trustees of the K & T MacFarlane Whānau Trust [2014] Chief Judge's MB 127

Appeals – leave granted to appeal provisional determination appointing a trustee - Williams – Harataunga West 2B2B2B2 (2014) 74 Waikato Maniapoto MB 6 (74 WMN 6)

Costs – costs order inappropriate in the circumstances - Subritzky – Mandoline Murray Whānau Trust (2014) 71 Taitokerau MB 101 (71 TTK 101)

Status of land - land General land on transfer to non-Māori purchasers - Dobson - Ahipara 2B47 (2014) 74 Taitokerau MB 179

Succession 

No independent objective evidence as to the intentions of the deceased - Nicholas – Estate of Robert Rawhiti Rangitakaiwaho Nicholas (2014) 316 Aotea MB 187 (316 AOT 187)

Applicant entitled to succeed where hapū connection to land exists - Tito – Te Anga Whanga (2014) 71 Taitokerau MB 94 (71 TTK 94)

Trusts:

Appointment of interim trustees to the Waikaremoana Reserves – Moses - Hopuruahine East & 12 other blocks (2014) 37 Tairāwhiti MB 238

Appointment of trustees and trustees' fees – Trust's robust processes could serve as best practice template – Stebbing - Tauhara Middle 4A 2B 2C (Opepe Farm Trust) (2014) 92 Waiariki MB 218

Management - partial termination not in anyone's interests - Green - Trustees of Te Kou Tiaki and Tangi Ataahua Green Whānau Trust (2014) 92 Waiariki MB 183

Creation of ahu whenua trust declined – Karaitiana v Carroll - Matahiwi No 4B, Waipuka 2R Section 3 and Waipuka 3A3A (2014) 29 Tākitimu MB 214

Māori Incorporations:

Withdrawal of resignation by committee member requires consent of committee – Ngamoki-Cameron v Koopu - The Proprietors of Mangaroa & Other Blocks Incorporated (2014) 91 Waiariki MB 279

Election invalidated – Tahata v Tahata - Ngāwhakatutu A1A Incorporation (2014) 37 Tairāwhiti MB 217

Māori reservations:

Insufficient support for partition if exclusion from reservation granted – Taniora - Te Koutu Mourea Māori Reservation (2014) 91 Waiariki MB 173

Resource Management

Māori interests in natural resource management - 2013 in review

Legislation

New Zealand’s first bilingual statute – does New Zealand have an appropriate legal framework?

Book review

He Papakupu Reo Ture: A Dictionary of Māori Legal Terms - reviewed by Pānia Papa

Indigenous Law Speaker Series 2014

The political ecology and political economy of the Indigenous land titling ‘revolution’ in Australia - Jon Altman

Print version

Download the Māori Law Review March 2014 (663 KB PDF).

High Court of Australia

Criminal law, sentencing and ethnicity - Bugmy v The Queen [2013] HCA 37

Court of Appeal

Criminal law, sentencing and ethnicity - Mika v R [2013] NZCA 648

Criminal law, application of tikanga Māori - Mason v R [2013] NZCA 310

Māori Appellate Court

Costs - award made akin to civil litigation - Nicholls v Trustees of WT Nicholls Trust (2014) Māori Appellate Court MB 2

Māori Land Court

Status of land - status will not be changed on the basis of mere possibilities - Hohaia - Ahipara 73B2A (2014) 72 Taitokerau MB 50

Costs - award made akin to civil litigation - Nicholls v Trustees of WT Nicholls Trust (2014) Māori Appellate Court MB 2

Trusts – removal of trustees, redefinition of class of beneficiaries – Kapa - Te Whakahau Hare and Ruka Paati (2014) 72 Taitokerau MB 54

Trusts – constitution of whānau trust – Aupouri - Mabel Aupouri Whānau Trust (2014) 37 Tairāwhiti MB 93

Waitangi Tribunal

Urgent inquiry into reform of the Māori Community Development Act 1962

Sir Edward Taihakurei Durie student essay competition 2013

Turbulent times: speculations about how the Whanganui River's position as a legal entity will be implemented and how it may erode the New Zealand legal landscape - Laura Hardcastle

Indigenous Law Speaker Series 2014

The political ecology and political economy of the Indigenous land titling ‘revolution’ in Australia - Professor Jon Altman from the Australian National University delivered the first of our 2014 lunchtime seminars on 13 February 2014 at the Faculty of Law, Victoria University of Wellington.

Print version

Download the Māori Law Review February 2014 (552 KB PDF).

Court of Appeal

Criminal law, sentencing and ethnicity - Mika v R [2013] NZCA 648

Māori Appellate Court

Appeals - leave to appeal out of time – applicant unable to demonstrate sufficient cause - Nicholls v Nicholls – W T Nicholls Trust [2013] Māori Appellate Court MB 636

Māori Land Court

Trusts – both an ahu whenua or whānau trust would be appropriate to achieve the aims of the owners – Te Ariki o Kahukura v Moore – Manukorihi 1B Section 2 (2013) 313 Aotea MB 254 (313 AOT 254)

Trusts - management - approach generally sound - Corrigan - Ngatihine H2B (2014) 71 Taitokerau MB 72

Occupation orders - order made for large site - Bhana v Paniora - Wairau North 1B2C  (2014) 71 Taitokerau MB 35

Waitangi Tribunal

Urgent inquiry into reform of the Māori Community Development Act 1962

Māori Appellate Court - Te Kōti Pīra Māori

2013 Māori Appellate Court judgments - index

Māori Land Court - Te Kōti Whenua Māori

2013 Māori Land Court judgments - index

Practice Note - November 2013 - citation of Māori Land Court and Māori Appellate Court decisions

Chief Judge's powers – succession to Tītī Islands confined to blood descendants – Coote - Titi Islands [2013] Chief Judge's MB 1018

Vesting land in hapū - Manuirirangi v Parininihi ki Waitotara Incorporation - Waiokura Te Kauae blocks (2013) 311 Aotea MB 104

Status of land - no change to General land simply so land can be sold - Manunui v Church - Lot 37-49 DP 34051 (2013) 313 Aotea MB 260

Trusts - appointment of trustees – no appointment where relationship may cause bias – Brown v Brownlie - Pipituangi A Ahu Whenua Trust (2013) 36 Tairāwhiti MB 78

Trusts - interim decision - trustee entitled to remain until replacements appointed - Puriri – Okaihau No3C No2 (2013) 28 Takitimu MB 129

Legislation

Treaty settlement legislation before the House of Representatives in 2013

Book review

Māmari Stephens reviews Lords of the Land – indigenous property rights and jurisprudence of empire

Professor David V Williams reviews The Native Land Court: A Historical Study, Cases and Commentary, 1862-1887

Māori Law Review news

Editorial - Remarks at the celebration of the Māori Law Review’s 20 year anniversary - Māmari Stephens

Print version

Download the Māori Law Review December 2013 (589 KB PDF).