Te Ture Whenua Maori Act 1993
Maori Land Act 1993

If you need more information about this Act, please contact the administering agency: Ministry of Māori Development-Te Puni Kōkiri

Objectives, jurisdiction, and powers

17 General objectives

(1)

In exercising its jurisdiction and powers under this Act, the primary objective of the court shall be to promote and assist in—

(a)

the retention of Maori land and General land owned by Maori in the hands of the owners; and

(b)

the effective use, management, and development, by or on behalf of the owners, of Maori land and General land owned by Maori.

(2)

In applying subsection (1), the court shall seek to achieve the following further objectives:

(a)

to ascertain and give effect to the wishes of the owners of any land to which the proceedings relate:

(b)

to provide a means whereby the owners may be kept informed of any proposals relating to any land, and a forum in which the owners might discuss any such proposal:

(c)

to determine or facilitate the settlement of disputes and other matters among the owners of any land:

(d)

to protect minority interests in any land against an oppressive majority, and to protect majority interests in the land against an unreasonable minority:

(e)

to ensure fairness in dealings with the owners of any land in multiple ownership:

(f)

to promote practical solutions to problems arising in the use or management of any land.