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.
- Whenua Māori Programme
- Proposed amendments to Ture Whenua Maori
- Whenua Knowledge
- Whenua Regional Advisory Services
- Ahuwhenua Trophy
- Whenua Māori Fund
- Our Whenua Māori stories
Joseph Hokianga on the last remaining areas of Māori freehold land in Kaiti, north of Gisborne. This block makes up one of four contiguous land blocks managed by Matuaokore Ahuwhenua Trust. With the support of the Whenua Māori Fund and our Gisborne office, the Trust is exploring options to gain access to their whenua, which provides a stunning view of Tūranga-nui-a-Kiwa. Photo credit: Josie McClutchie
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 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
