1 What this means
The Māori Land Court has many processes. Matching your goal to the right one first saves time, and the Court’s staff can help confirm it.
2 What still needs checking
- Inherit interests after a death → succession (Forms 21 / 22)
- Pool whānau interests → whānau trust (Form 36)
- Set up management of a block → Ahu Whenua Trust (Form 37)
- Change trustees → Form 38
- Live on the land → Licence to Occupy or occupation order (Form 40)
- Divide land → partition (Form 39)
- Call a meeting of owners → Form 32
- Resolve a dispute → Form 98L
- Anything else → Form 1 (general application)
3 What you can do next
If there is a deadline or urgent issue, contact the Court directly rather than waiting.
Forms & templates for this
- Form 1 — General applicationThe general application, for Court matters that don’t have their own dedicated form. Open Form 1 — General application Download Form 1 — General application
- Form 32 — Application to call a meeting of ownersAsks the Court to call a meeting of assembled owners — a formal meeting where owners can make decisions about the land. Open Form 32 — Application to call a meeting of owners Download Form 32 — Application to call a meeting of owners
- Form 98L — Application for dispute resolutionAsks for the Court’s dispute resolution service (such as mediation) to help resolve a dispute about Māori land. Open Form 98L — Application for dispute resolution Download Form 98L — Application for dispute resolution
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.
