23 September 2026

Māori Land Trusts: Kaitiakitanga for the Next Generation

For Māori land trusts, governance is not simply about compliance or administration. It is about protecting whenua, strengthening whānau, enabling development, and planning for generations yet to come. The most successful Māori land trusts view governance through both a cultural and economic lens, recognising that whenua is more than an asset.  It is a taonga to be protected while also supporting future prosperity.

As we head into the warmer months of the year, now is a great time to take stock of how your trust is tracking against these matters and to tackle any tasks you have been putting off.  We set out our top recommendations for completing your spring kaitiakitanga “warrant of fitness”.

Build a long-term whenua strategy – A long-term strategy aids in providing clarify for trustees and owners and driving the mahi of the trust.  Consider the vision and priorities the owners have for the whenua.  This could include occupation or papakāinga, conservation, income generation, cultural revitalisation, or a mix of these priorities.  Once you have this, it will also inform smaller strategic action for the trust.

Build governance capability among trustees – Check whether your trusteeship is current; if an election is needed or recent trustee changes need to be confirmed by the Māori Land Court.  Trustees can then consider what support may be needed to assist trustees with governance. This could include:

• Training on trustee duties and obligations
• Financial literacy training
• Creating a trustee development and succession plan, such as mentoring younger whānau members or running governance internships
• Obtaining professional advice in the areas of your strategic plan

Review governance documents – Good governance documents provide a framework that enables trustees to fulfil their duties and manage kaitiakitanga of their whenua transparently.  Consider whether your trust deed or charter should be reviewed and updated and if there are other policies that can be developed to support good governance.  This could include an occupation policy, wāhi tapu policy, communication policy, or trustee conduct and dispute resolution policies.

Improve engagement with owners – A high level of engagement with owners strengthens trust, supports better decision-making and helps ensure the aspirations of the owners are reflected in the kaitiakitanga of the whenua.  Consider whether the current engagement model is working for the trust and what additional measures could be put in place for improvements.  Such measures could include:

• Actively updating contact details for owners. Consider building in a dedicated space for this, such as at AGM meetings, via trust pānui or with a separate trust email for this purpose.
• Using social media platforms. Consider creating a website or Facebook page for the trust to make interacting with the trust easier, more accessible and cost-effective.
• Communicating regularly. In addition to the AGM, consider quarterly pānui, other types of engagement hui and opportunities for feedback.
• Connecting owners with the whenua. Consider site visits, planting days or working bees to reinforce connection and kaitiakitanga of the whenua.

Our team is experienced in Māori Trust governance and can assist with all your needs to strengthen and future-proof your trust, whether this is strategic advice, preparation of your trust and governance documents, delivering trustee training and facilitating hui, assisting with applications to the Māori Land Court or dispute resolution, including mediation.  Get in contact with our Kahurangi Team and look out for our upcoming webinar series with topics including: Māori Land Trust Governance, Papakāinga; Navigating Pātaka Whenua; and Resource Management.