What are customary marine interests
Customary marine interests include customary marine title and protected customary rights.
Customary marine title recognises the relationship of iwi, hapū or whānau with a part of the common marine and coastal area. Customary marine title can’t be sold, and free public access, fishing and other recreational activities are allowed to continue in customary marine title areas.
Protected customary rights include activities like launching waka and collecting hangi stones, that were undertaken in 1840 and continue today as part of local iwi, hapū and whānau tikanga practice.
For more information on customary interests in the common marine and coastal area visit the Te Tari Whakatau website - Te Tira Takutai Moana.
Our role
Under the Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Act (subpart 3 of part 4), Toitū Te Whenua Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) is responsible for maintaining a marine and coastal area register as a permanent record of documents relating to customary marine interests.
Updating the register
The Register is updated when the chief executive of LINZ receives documents to enter onto the Register.
It can be some time after recognition orders are made by the Court, or an agreement is entered into with the Crown that documents are completed and provided to LINZ to add to the Register.
Application information
Information about the progress of applications for recognition of customary interests is on the Te Tari Whakatau website - Te Tira Takutai Moana - Applications.