Treaty Settlements Landbank and the Protection Mechanism

We manage and maintain properties in the Treaty Settlements Landbank. This land can be used as cultural or commercial redress in a settlement.

The process for adding surplus Crown-owned land to the Landbank is called the Protection Mechanism and it is managed by the Treaty Settlements Rōpū (part of the Office for Māori Crown Relations – Te Arawhiti).

How the Protection Mechanism works

When a government department wants to sell land it no longer needs, it must first make sure that it has met any legal and policy obligations the Crown has as the owner of the land.

The Treaty Settlements Rōpū advertises surplus Crown-owned land to identify any Māori interests. Details of the properties are advertised in the Sunday Star Times and Sunday News newspapers on the following dates.

Advertising schedule 2020/2021

Surplus Crown-owned Land February 2021: Protection Mechanism and Sites of Significance

Applications for Landbanking and/or Sites of Significance for properties in this schedule close 12 March 2021.

Protection mechanism and sites of significance advertisement - February 2021 (PDF 3MB)

Further information on landbanking and the protection mechanism see below.

How to apply to Landbank a property

Any Māori group or individual who has a registered claim with the Waitangi Tribunal in the same area as the advertised land can apply to have it protected for use in a future Treaty settlement.

If the Crown agrees to keep the land it will be purchased by the Treaty Settlements Landbank. The land can then be used as cultural or commercial redress in a settlement.

Protection of Māori interests in surplus Crown-owned land: information for applicants (PDF 4MB)

Application form: Landbanking of Crown-owned land (PDF 40KB)

Current properties in the Treaty Settlements Landbank

List of properties in the Treaty Settlements Landbank (PDF 744KB)

Sites of Significance to Māori

The Crown also has a responsibility to protect any wahi tapu, or other sites of significance to Māori, that are on surplus Crown-owned land. This is done separately to the Protection Mechanism process.

Applications to have Significant Sites on surplus Crown-owned land recognised are made through Te Arawhiti.

Application form: protection of a Significant Site (PDF 37KB)

Using a Landbank property in settlements

Landbank properties can be used as either cultural or commercial redress in a Treaty settlement. Properties are not put aside for any particular claimant group, even if that group applied to add them to the Landbank.

Claimants don’t have to accept Landbank property as part of their settlement. If they do, the property’s market value will be deducted from the cash payment received in the settlement.

Private land

Land that is privately owned is generally not available for use in Treaty settlements, but claimants can make their own arrangements with the owners if both parties agree. The Crown does not get involved in matters related to private land.

Contact details

• For information about the Protection Mechanism call the Ministry of Justice on 04 918 8800 and ask for the Settlement Advisor – Protection Mechanism in Te Arawhiti, or email info@justice.govt.nz
• For information about a Landbank property in your area of interest email treatysettlementslandbank@linz.govt.nz
• To ask about leasing or renting a Landbank property, call Colliers International NZ on 04 473 7910 and ask for the Treaty Settlement Property Management Team.

Information for Crown agencies

These documents provide more information for Crown agencies.

• Protection of Māori interests in surplus Crown-owned land: information for Crown agencies (PDF 2MB)
• Checklist for properties to be advertised in the Protection Mechanism and Sites of Significance process (PDF 100KB)