| The Maori Land Court was set up under the Te Ture Whenua Maori Act 1993 and has jurisdiction to hear matters relating to Maori land. The Maori Land Court has a Chief Judge and a Deputy Chief Judge as well as resident Judges in most Maori Land Court districts. These Judges are appointed by the Governor-General.
The functions of the Maori Land Court are:
- to promote the management of Maori land by its owners by maintaining the records of title and ownership information of Maori land;
- to service the Maori Land Courts and related Tribunals;
- to provide land information from the Maori Land Court and Crown agencies;
- to contribute to the administration of Maori land;
- to preserve taonga Maori.
The Court was originally established as the Native Land Court under the Native Land Act 1865. It has been called the Maori Land Court since 1954.
The initial role of the Native Land Court was to define the land rights of Maori people under Maori custom and to translate those rights or customary titles into land titles recognisable under European law. |
