Rainey Collins Lawyers

An Introduction to the Maori Land Court

Tuesday, 16 November, 2010 | Peter Johnston

The Maori Land Court is a Court of record.

It is made up of a Chief Judge (presently Judge Isaac) with Judges appointed for each district.

The Maori Land Court deals with many matters relating to Maori and dealings with their land including the following:

1. Claims in law or in equity to the ownership or possession of Maori freehold land;
2. To determine the relative interests

Waitangi Tribunal Report Released for Tauranga Moana

Thursday, 21 October, 2010 | Peter Johnston

The Waitangi Tribunal has released its report entitled Tauranga Moana, 1886 – 2006: Report on the Post Raupatu Claims.  The Report covers stage 2 of the Tauranga inquiry, which focuses on the significant amount of land loss to iwi and hapu between 1886 and 2006.

The Waitangi Tribunal has recognised breaches by the Crown in a number of areas, including:

• The acquisition of land through Crown purchases

Replacement of Foreshore and Seabed Act Likely Soon

Wednesday, 10 February, 2010 | Peter Johnston

The Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. John Key, confirmed at Te Tii Marae, Waitangi on 8 February 2010 that the Foreshore and Seabed Act 2004 (“the Act”) will be replaced this year.

The Attorney General was reported as stating that he expects to take a “blueprint” for the replacement of the Act in a series of national hui in March 2010… Continue reading

Funding for Housing on Maori Land

Wednesday, 10 February, 2010 | Peter Johnston

On 3 February 2010, the Housing Minister, Hon. Phil Heatley, announced that Maori who want to build on their ancestral land may have an opportunity through a partnership between Housing New Zealand Corporation and Kiwibank.

Minister Heatley announced that the Crown will be stepping in as guarantor for qualifying home loans.

The partnership provides an opportunity for Maori to build, purchase or relocate a house on multiply-owned Maori… Continue reading

Waikato River Sign New Deed of Settlement

Thursday, 28 January, 2010 | Jo-Ella Sarich

On 17 December 2009, Waikato-Tainui signed a re-negotiated Deed of Settlement with the Crown in relation to the Waikato River, which replaces the earlier settlement reached in August 2008.  

The Crown sought a revised Deed of Settlement which would simplify co-governance arrangements over the Waikato River.  The revised Deed of Settlement now provides for the creation of a single co-governance entity (the Waikato River Authority), which will monitor the… Continue reading

Rainey Collins Solicitor Publishes Major Research Papers

Wednesday, 23 April, 2008 | Peter Johnston

Rainey Collins solicitor, Dr Bryan Gilling, has recently published 4 major research papers on Maori society and land usage up to the present.  They appear in an important series on Maori rangatiratanga published by the Treaty of Waitangi Research Unit, Victoria University of Wellington.  Bryan has been Senior Research Associate at the Unit for many years.

The research combines Bryan’s extensive legal and historical expertise.  The 4… Continue reading

Maori Land Online

Monday, 9 January, 2006 | Peter Johnston

Maori landowners are now able to carry out a search of their Maori land shares using the Maori Land Court’s new Maori Land On Line system.

Since 1995 the Maori Land Court has been moving from a paper-based system to electronic processing of applications and enquiries.

The Maori Land Information System was introduced to the Maori Land Court in 1999.  It includes a database of all the Maori… Continue reading

Significant Changes Involving Alienations Of Maori Freehold Land

Wednesday, 16 November, 2005 | Peter Johnston

The Te Ture Whenua Maori Amendment Act 2002 came into effect on 1 July 2002 and contains significant amendments concerning the alienation, administration and utilization of Maori freehold land.

Restrictions on alienation of Maori Freehold land have been removed in part.  For instance, a first offer of refusal to persons in the preferred class of alienee is now only required for alienations by way of sale or gift… Continue reading

Alienations Of Maori Freehold Land

Wednesday, 16 November, 2005 | Peter Johnston

This article looks at issues concerning the alienation of Maori land and contains information which should be of interest to all owners of Maori land or interests in Maori land who are considering alienating their land, by way of sale, lease, license, mortgage or charge.

The Maori Land Act 1993 provides that no interest in Maori freehold land may be alienated other than in accordance with the Act… Continue reading

Foreshore And Seabed Act 2004 – Frequently Asked Questions …

Tuesday, 28 June, 2005 | Peter Johnston

The Foreshore and Seabed Act 2004 came into force on 17 January 2005.  The Act states that the foreshore and seabed is owned by the Crown. The Act also sets out the process by which the High Court or Maori Land Court can investigate rights to the foreshore and seabed.

The following are answers to some frequently asked questions.

Q. What is the Foreshore and Seabed?

The foreshore and… Continue reading

Tuesday, 31 January, 2012

TV 1 Breakfast Show

Thursday, 26 January, 2012

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