Ara Whenua

How Māori land shares work

A share is your proportional interest in the whole block. It shows how much of the block you own as a fraction — not a particular piece of land that is yours alone.

1 What this means

If a block has 1,000 shares and you hold 10, you own 1% of the whole block. Your interest is undivided: it sits across the entire block rather than in one corner of it.

Over generations, succession divides interests among descendants, so many blocks now have hundreds or thousands of owners. Your shares also shape your voice in decisions — for example in weighted votes at meetings of owners.

2 What still needs checking

  • Your exact share figure and the block’s total shares (Pātaka Whenua, the Court’s owner portal)
  • Whether any of your interests are still recorded in the name of a deceased relative
  • Whether a trust manages the block, and how owners take part in decisions

3 What you can do next

Use the Land shares calculator to see what your shares represent as an area — then see it on the whenua with Māori Land Map.

A share is not a house site

Holding shares does not by itself give you the right to fence, build on or occupy a particular part of the block. That needs a recognised arrangement — such as a Licence to Occupy, a lease, or an occupation order from the Court.

Official sources

Last reviewed 13 November 2026. General guidance only — not legal, financial or building advice. Court, lending and building decisions remain with the relevant decision makers.