1 What this means
Papakāinga brings whānau home together. Because homes share land, access, water and wastewater, decisions about who lives where, how costs are shared and how the place is governed matter as much as the buildings.
2 What still needs checking
- Who has authority over the land, and whether owners support the kaupapa
- Your council’s papakāinga rules and zoning
- Access, water, wastewater and power for multiple homes
- How whānau will agree who lives where, and share costs
- Realistic total costs and funding
3 What you can do next
Hold a whānau hui to agree the vision, then work through Build readiness and the Project budget calculator.
Forms & templates for this
- Template 5 — Defined Occupation AreaDescribes and records the exact area someone will occupy, ideally with a plan. Download Template 5 — Defined Occupation Area
- Template 7 — Rates & Outgoings AgreementAgrees who pays rates and other outgoings for an occupied area. Download Template 7 — Rates & Outgoings Agreement
- Template 3 — Trustee Resolution RecordRecords a trustee decision (resolution) — what was decided, who voted and when. Download Template 3 — Trustee Resolution Record
Check the latest version on the Māori Land Court website before filing. Templates are starting points, not official Court forms.
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.
