New Zealand Legislation: Acts
Acts are laws made by Parliament
(1) The members of Ngai Tahu Whanui are the descendants of—
(a) the persons, being members of Ngai Tahu iwi living in the year 1848, whose names are set out in the list appearing at pages 92 to 131 (both inclusive) of the book containing the minutes of the proceedings and findings of a committee (commonly known as the Ngaitahu Census Committee) appointed in the year 1929, the book being that lodged in the office of the Registrar of the Maori Land Court at Christchurch and marked “Ngaitahu Census Committee Minutes 1929”
:
(b) any other person who may, pursuant to the provisions of subsection (4) of this section, be determined to be a member of Ngai Tahu iwi living in the year 1848.
(2) Where any question arises as to whether or not a person is a descendant of any of the persons who are referred to in paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (1) of this section, Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu shall have authority to determine that question.
(3) Any person who is not a member of Ngai Tahu Whanui by virtue of that person being a descendant of any of the persons mentioned in paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of this section and who claims to be a descendant of a member of the Ngai Tahu iwi who was living in the year 1848 may apply to Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu to have that member determined to be a member of Ngai Tahu iwi living in the year 1848.
(4) Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu shall consider any application made under subsection (3) of this section with all convenient speed and shall notify the applicant of its decision and, if the applicant so requests, of the reasons for its decision.
(5) If Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu rejects an application made under subsection (3) of this section, the person making the application may, within 6 months after the date upon which that person is notified of the decision of Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu, apply to the Maori Land Court to hear and determine the question.
(6) The Maori Land Court shall have jurisdiction to hear and determine the question and any determination made by the Maori Land Court shall be final and conclusive.