Online resources
Find archive records of Māori Land Court hearings at this site, along with plans and maps of land Court dealings, and papers dealing with specific sittings. Other land record types are also held with Archives New Zealand. Check the list of record locations to see where particular record types are available from.
The Knowledge Basket Māori Land Court Minute Book Index
A database providing easy access to over 1100 minute books between 1865 and 1910.
The Knowledge Basket database links
Links to a range of databases, including those of interest to people researching Māori land.
This website provides a snapshot of current ownership, trustee, memorial and block information for land falls under the jurisdiction of the Maori Land Court.
Claims lodged with the Waitangi Tribunal
Information on Māori land is available in the Tribunal reports that it produces on each claim.
Information and resources for finding official and unofficial names for features and places in New Zealand, Antarctica and the Pacific.
Offline resources
Māori Land Information System
The Māori Land Information System is a database established by the Māori Land Court to provide a national index, a workflow component and imaging of records. You can obtain access to National Māori Land Court records via this database, through any registry or information office in the Māori Land Court. A List of Māori Land Court offices and Contact Details is available.
Ownership records
Records of all current Māori land owners and Māori land are available from the Māori Land Information System and the Māori Land Court.
Māori Land Court orders made by judges or registrars of the Māori land court
These records are being imaged into the Māori Land Information System and are available from the Māori Land Court.
Māori Land Court minute books held at the Māori Land Court
These contain the record of Māori Land Court hearings. These records are being imaged into the Māori Land Information System and are available from the Māori Land Court.
Māori Land Court minute books held at Archives New Zealand
Archives New Zealand does not have a web search capability, however, they have reference guides for researching and the database of Māori Land Court Minute Books published as the New Zealand and Pacific Collection by the University of Auckland Library, September 1996. Ask for "The University of Auckland Māori Land Court Minute Books - a guide to information sources including computer database indexes."
Reference guides include:
- Reference guide No. 6 - Researching whakapapa
- Reference guide No.16 - Some strategies for searching Māori names and land blocks
Partitions of Māori blocks
The Block Order files contain superseded Block Ownership Lists, Memorial Schedules, Title and other Orders pertaining to Māori freehold land titles. These records are being imaged into the Māori Land Information System and are available from the Māori Land Court.
Administration of Māori land
The Māori Land Court can tell you whether Māori land is administered by the Māori Trustee or an incorporation or a private trust.
Unclaimed monies list
A book produced each year by the Māori Trustee listing accounts that are in credit of the persons named. Although the list can be accessed at the Māori Land Court and Te Puni Kokiri offices, moneys must be claimed from the Māori Trustee.
Māori freehold land title notices
Title Notices and other documents issued by the Māori Land Court or other Government departments and agencies in relation to Māori freehold land (includes Lease and Mortgage documents) are available from the Māori Land Court.
Libraries
Don't forget to visit your library for information on researching.