Māori Land Utilisation – Using your Māori land

At McCaw Lewis, we provide expert legal advice on Māori land utilisation, supporting iwi, hapū, whānau, and Māori landowners across Waikato and New Zealand to unlock the potential of their whenua while honouring tikanga Māori and legal requirements. Our Whenua Māori team is experienced in helping clients develop and implement strategies for the productive and sustainable use of Māori land, ensuring benefits for current and future generations.

There are many potential options for utilising your Māori land that will often involve collective support for development.  Occupying or building on Māori land enables whānau to live on and connect with whenua.  Preparation is often key and will involve understanding your shareholding, permission from other landowners or trustees and consideration of finance and council requirements.  In some instances a Māori Land Court application will be required for an occupation order and in other instances a Trust may be able to grant a licence to occupy to you.

Other options for utilising whenua Māori include dividing land through partition or subdivision.  These are complex obligations involving a number of legal requirements and survey and valuation information.  Landowners can also consider leasing their land, often this is done where a Trust or Incorporation is in place over the land and involve thinking about how long a lease can be granted for, whether Māori Land Court involvement is required and support of the landowners.

Our experienced Whenua Māori lawyers can assist with:

• Advice on occupation order and licence to occupy arrangements
• Advice on dividing whenua Māori through partition or subdivision
• Advice on leasing whenua Māori
• Representation and advice in relation to Whenua Māori utilisation litigation