Whenua Māori
WHAKAMĀRAMA • KNOWLEDGE HUB

Māori Land Topics

Plain-language guides for Māori land owners and whānau: what your land is, what your shares mean, how they pass on, and how trusts govern whenua.

Start with the guide that matches your question. Each one explains the rules under Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993 in plain English, with links to the official sources and the next practical steps.

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Core guides

What Is Māori Freehold Land?

The meaning of Māori freehold land, how it differs from customary land and general land owned by Māori, and what it means for owners.

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How Māori Land Shares Work

What your shares mean, why they are not a piece of land, how they pass on, and how to find out what you own.

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Māori Land Succession

Who can succeed, the Māori Land Court process, the documents you may need and how long it usually takes.

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Ahu Whenua Trusts

How an Ahu Whenua Trust is set up under section 215, what trustees do, and how it differs from a whānau trust.

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History and research

Land block histories

Ōrākei Block: A Native Land Court Case Study for Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei

Ōrākei Block: A Native Land Court Case Study for Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei

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The Pukeroa-Oruawhata Block: Ownership, Succession, and Ngāti Whakaue Management

The Pukeroa-Oruawhata Block: Ownership, Succession, and Ngāti Whakaue Management

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The History and Significance of the Pukeroa-Oruawhata Block, Rotorua

The History and Significance of the Pukeroa-Oruawhata Block, Rotorua

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The Waikato Confiscations: Land Seizures and Their Enduring Impact on Waikato-Tainui

The Waikato Confiscations: Land Seizures and Their Enduring Impact on Waikato-Tainui

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Ready to take the next step?

Practical help on Ara Whenua

Our sister site turns these topics into step-by-step pathways, Māori Land Court forms and free calculators.

See your whenua on the map

Search Māori land blocks and explore ownership information visually with the Whenua Māori Visualizer.

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