Reform of Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993 – What is a rangatōpū?

One of the proposed changes in the current reforms to Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993 is the creation of a new governance model called a “rangatōpū”.

The rangatōpū is intended to be a new type of governance body which landowners can appoint to manage their land. They will cover existing Māori entities like private trusts, Māori incorporations and certain trusts. Landowners will have to decide whether their rangatōpū is a body corporate or private trust.

All existing Māori incorporations and trusts will have to transition to the rangatōpū regime within three years once Te Ture Whenua Māori Bill (“the Bill”) is passed. They will become rangatōpū and continue as either body corporates or private trusts.

It is vital that Māori landholders, trustees and committee members understand the new rangatōpū. Here are some of their key features:

• Every rangatōpū must have a ‘governance agreement’. A governance agreement is similar to existing Māori trust deeds and Māori incorporation constitutions.
• Existing Māori incorporations and trusts will have to update their current constitutions and trust deeds to comply with the Bill.
• The Bill contains new statutory obligations with which rangatōpū must comply. For instance, rangatōpū will have to manage their land in accordance with their governance agreement, and ensure that the way they manage the land does not create a risk of serious loss to their landowners.
• Trustees of existing Māori trusts and Māori incorporation committee members will become ‘kaitiaki’ – the Bill’s new term for governance body board members – of the rangatōpū. They will have to ensure that the rangatōpū adheres to its governance agreement and complies with the Bill’s new statutory obligations.

 We are available to provide advice about the new rangatōpū and the other proposed changes in the Bill.