Te Ture Whenua Maori Act 1993 (Maori Land Act 1993)
Public Act 1993 No 4
Preamble
An Act to reform the laws relating to Maori land in accordance with the principles set out in the Preamble to this Act
Nà ate mea i riro nà te Tiriti o Waitangi i motuhake ai te noho a te iwi me te Karauna: à, nà te
mea e tika ana kia whakaùtia anò te wairua o te wà i riro atu ai te kàwanatanga kia riro mai ai
te mau tonu o te rangatiratanga e takoto nei i roto i te Tiriti o Waitangi: à, nà te mea e tika
ana kia màrama ko te whenua he taonga tuku iho e tino whakaaro nuitia ana e te iwi Màori, à,
nà térà he whakahau kia mau tonu taua whenua ki te iwi nòna, ki ò ràtou whànau, hapù hoki,
a, hei whakamàmà i te nohotanga, i te whakahaeretanga, i te whakamahitanga o taua whenua
hei painga mò te hunga nòna, mò ò ràtou whànau, hapù hoki: à, nà te mea e tika ana kia tù
tonu he Kòti, a, kia, whakatakototia he tikanga hei àwhina i te iwi Màori kia taea ai énei
kaupapa te whakatinana:
Whereas the Treaty of Waitangi established the special relationship between the Maori
people and the Crown: And whereas it is desirable that the spirit of the exchange of
kawanatanga for the protection of rangatiratanga embodied in the Treaty of Waitangi be
reaffirmed: And whereas it is desirable to recognise that land is a taonga tuku iho of special
significance to Maori people and, for that reason, to promote the retention of that land in the
hands of its owners, their whanau, and their hapu: and to facilitate the occupation,
development, and utilisation of that land for the benefit of its owners, their whanau, and their
hapu: And whereas it is desirable to maintain a Court and to establish mechanisms to assist
the Maori people to achieve the implementation of these principles:
mea e tika ana kia whakaùtia anò te wairua o te wà i riro atu ai te kàwanatanga kia riro mai ai
te mau tonu o te rangatiratanga e takoto nei i roto i te Tiriti o Waitangi: à, nà te mea e tika
ana kia màrama ko te whenua he taonga tuku iho e tino whakaaro nuitia ana e te iwi Màori, à,
nà térà he whakahau kia mau tonu taua whenua ki te iwi nòna, ki ò ràtou whànau, hapù hoki,
a, hei whakamàmà i te nohotanga, i te whakahaeretanga, i te whakamahitanga o taua whenua
hei painga mò te hunga nòna, mò ò ràtou whànau, hapù hoki: à, nà te mea e tika ana kia tù
tonu he Kòti, a, kia, whakatakototia he tikanga hei àwhina i te iwi Màori kia taea ai énei
kaupapa te whakatinana:
Whereas the Treaty of Waitangi established the special relationship between the Maori
people and the Crown: And whereas it is desirable that the spirit of the exchange of
kawanatanga for the protection of rangatiratanga embodied in the Treaty of Waitangi be
reaffirmed: And whereas it is desirable to recognise that land is a taonga tuku iho of special
significance to Maori people and, for that reason, to promote the retention of that land in the
hands of its owners, their whanau, and their hapu: and to facilitate the occupation,
development, and utilisation of that land for the benefit of its owners, their whanau, and their
hapu: And whereas it is desirable to maintain a Court and to establish mechanisms to assist
the Maori people to achieve the implementation of these principles:
1 Short Title and commencement
(1) This Act may be cited as--
(a) Te Ture Whenua Maori Act 1993; or
(b) The Maori Land Act 1993.
(2) This Act shall come into force on the 1st day of July 1993.
2 Interpretation of Act generally
(1) It is the intention of Parliament that the provisions of this Act shall be interpreted in a
manner that best furthers the principles set out in the Preamble to this Act.
(2) Without limiting the generality of subsection (1) of this section, it is the intention of
Parliament that powers, duties, and discretions conferred by this Act shall be
exercised, as far as possible, in a manner that facilitates and promotes the retention,
New Zealand Statutes - Update 25 March 2002
Annotated to 2002 No 2 - 1 March 2002
Query: [Group 'Te Ture Whenua Maori Act 1993 (Maori Land Act 1993)'] Page 15
use, development, and control of Maori land as taonga tuku iho by Maori owners,
their whanau, their hapu, and their descendants.
(3) In the event of any conflict in meaning between the Maori and the English versions of
the Preamble, the Maori version shall prevail.
3 Interpretation of Maori terms
In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,--
ahi ka means fires of occupation:
kai tiaki means guardian:
tikanga Maori means Maori customary values and practices:
tipuna means ancestor:
whanaunga means a person related by blood:
whangai means a person adopted in accordance with tikanga Maori.
5 Act to bind the Crown
This Act shall bind the Crown.
(1) This Act may be cited as--
(a) Te Ture Whenua Maori Act 1993; or
(b) The Maori Land Act 1993.
(2) This Act shall come into force on the 1st day of July 1993.
2 Interpretation of Act generally
(1) It is the intention of Parliament that the provisions of this Act shall be interpreted in a
manner that best furthers the principles set out in the Preamble to this Act.
(2) Without limiting the generality of subsection (1) of this section, it is the intention of
Parliament that powers, duties, and discretions conferred by this Act shall be
exercised, as far as possible, in a manner that facilitates and promotes the retention,
New Zealand Statutes - Update 25 March 2002
Annotated to 2002 No 2 - 1 March 2002
Query: [Group 'Te Ture Whenua Maori Act 1993 (Maori Land Act 1993)'] Page 15
use, development, and control of Maori land as taonga tuku iho by Maori owners,
their whanau, their hapu, and their descendants.
(3) In the event of any conflict in meaning between the Maori and the English versions of
the Preamble, the Maori version shall prevail.
3 Interpretation of Maori terms
In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,--
ahi ka means fires of occupation:
kai tiaki means guardian:
tikanga Maori means Maori customary values and practices:
tipuna means ancestor:
whanaunga means a person related by blood:
whangai means a person adopted in accordance with tikanga Maori.
5 Act to bind the Crown
This Act shall bind the Crown.
