Whānau development through land is a key focus for Te Puni Kōkiri. It supports Māori landowners, trustees and whānau to realise their aspirations, whether they be social, cultural, environmental or economic.
- COVID-19: Support for whenua businesses
- Whenua Māori Programme
- Proposed changes to the rating of Māori land
- Proposed amendments to Ture Whenua Maori
- Whenua Knowledge
- Whenua Regional Advisory Services
- Ahuwhenua Trophy
- Whenua Māori Fund
- Our Whenua Māori stories
Hone Dalton and Tayla Marsh from Te Kotahitanga e Mahi Kaha Trust in Kaikohe where Minister Mahuta announced the rating changes. Photo by Josie McClutchie
COVID-19: Support for whenua businesses
We will provide you with updates as new information comes to hand, and as we understand how we can best support your needs moving forward.
Whenua Māori – responding to COVID-19 impacts
We have commissioned three reports to support whenua-based businesses with their planning and decision making about the future. These reports examine the current and anticipated impacts of COVID-19 on the Māori economy, and the risks and opportunities ahead for Māori land-based sectors and others.
Whenua Māori Programme
The Whenua Māori Programme will support the sustainable development of whenua Māori, increase the knowledge and skills of Māori landowners, generate wealth and strengthen the connection between Māori and their whenua.
The Programme is co-led by Te Puni Kōkiri and the Ministry of Justice. It recognises that Māori freehold landowners face a complex regulatory environment and have difficultly accessing information and resources about Māori freehold land.
The Programme addresses these challenges by:
- enabling on-the-ground support for Māori landowners in key regions
- amending Te Ture Whenua Maori Act 1993
- providing new and enhanced Māori Land Court services
- modernising Māori Land Court information systems; and
- creating a Whenua Knowledge Hub and website designed in collaboration with Māori.
The Whenua Māori Programme was announced by the Māori Development Minister Nanaia Mahuta in February 2019. You can read more about it here. https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/reform-whenua-m%C4%81ori
In May 2019, Minister Mahuta and Justice Minister Andrew Little announced that the Government will invest $56.1 million into the Whenua Māori Programme over the next four years. Click here for more information on the Whenua Budget announcement for 2019.
Proposed changes to the rating of Māori land
Parliament is currently considering significant changes to the rating of Māori freehold land. The proposals are part of the Government’s wider commitment to supporting whānau and regional development through whenua. They are a major step forward in reducing the rating barriers for owners of Māori freehold land and encouraging the greater use, occupation and development of whenua Māori.
The Local Government (Rating of Whenua Māori) Amendment Bill was introduced into Parliament in February and public submissions closed on 17 May. The Māori Affairs Committee are now considering the submissions received and the Bill. To keep up to date with the Bill’s progress, go here.
Find out more information here.
Proposed amendments to Ture Whenua Maori
Te Ture Whenua Maori (Succession, Dispute Resolution, and Related Matters) Amendment Bill was introduced into Parliament on 19 September 2019.
The proposed changes to Te Ture Whenua Maori Act 1993 recognise that the protection of Māori land remains a priority but that changes to the legislation will make it easier for Māori land owners to engage with their whenua.
Find out more information on the Bill.
Whenua Knowledge
The development of a Whenua Knowledge Hub and website is one of the key initiatives of the Whenua Māori Programme. It will give Māori landowners, trustees and whānau the most up-to-date and trusted information about their whenua to support their planning, investments and aspirations.
These tools are being worked on in collaboration with Māori. Watch this video to see how the Hub is being developed.
WhenuaViz upgrade an important first step
In the meantime, Te Puni Kōkiri and Manaaki Whenua launched the enhanced Whenua Māori Visualisation Tool (WhenuaViz) in May 2019. You can view the media release here.
The improved website makes it easier for whānau to generate customised land summary reports and find valuable information about soil properties, climate data and potential land uses.
You can view the upgraded WhenuaViz website here.
Guide to using the WhenuaViz website
Whenua Regional Advisory Services
The new service will provide for dedicated staff across Te Tai Tokerau (Northland) Waiariki (Bay of Plenty) and Te Tairāwhiti (East Coast).
The role of the service is to provide specialised and customised support that empowers Māori landowners to move forward on their development journey.
Watch this video to see how Te Puni Kōkiri staff in Te Tairāwhiti supported Whangara Farms to establish their partnership in 2006.
In recognition of their success, Whangara Farms were a finalist in the Ahuwhenua Trophy Te Puni Kōkiri Excellence in Māori Farming Award 2019 (sheep and beef category).
Click here for more information about the Ahuwhenua Trophy.
Ahuwhenua Trophy
The Ahuwhenua Trophy celebrates excellence in Māori farming. Te Puni Kōkiri is the proud platinum sponsor of this prestigious award which was established by Sir Apirana Ngata and Governor-General Lord Bledisloe in 1933. Te Puni Kōkiri is proud of its commitment to whenua initiatives, celebrating exemplary Māori farming through the Ahuwhenua Trophy Award, and enabling and supporting Māori freehold landowners through its recently established Whenua Māori Programme. Find out more information on the Ahuwhenua Trophy here.
Whenua Māori Fund
With the support of the Whenua Māori Fund, whānau Māori are exploring and fulfilling their aspirations for Māori freehold land. Read more
