Guides & Templates
Our guides break down Māori Land Court processes step by step — explaining what applies to your situation, when to use each form, and how to prepare properly.
These are not generic summaries. Each guide is structured to walk whānau through the full process in plain language — without legal jargon or confusion.
Where others provide information, we focus on practical navigation — helping whānau understand what’s required and how to move forward with confidence.
Clear Māori Land Guides — WHAT, WHEN, and HOW
Used by whānau across Aotearoa preparing succession, occupation, trust, and papakāinga applications.
GUIDE & TEMPLATE DOWNLOADS
Occupation Order Filing System is designed to help whānau prepare a clear, structured Māori Land Court occupation order application before filing. Occupation applications are frequently delayed due to incomplete site details, unclear hui records, eligibility issues, or insufficient supporting information. This system is built to minimise those risks by guiding you through what the Court expects. Instead of relying on generic explanations or piecing documents together yourself, everything is structured in one place. You are not buying surface-level information. You are buying a practical, Court-aligned preparation framework. What’s Included Occupation Order Preparation Template: A structured, court-aligned information-gathering template designed to clarify eligibility, land status, site details, and occupation intentions before lodgement. Occupation Order Guidebook (41 pages) Explains: How occupation orders work under Te Ture Whenua Māori Act How the Māori Land Court assesses applications Common reasons applications are delayed or declined Trustee considerations and owner involvement Practical risks that arise in real occupation cases Focused on Court reasoning — not generic summaries. Trustee / Owner Hui Minutes Templates (Court-Safe Wording) Professionally structured templates for recording trustee or owner awareness and non-opposition. Includes versions for: Trust-administered land Owner-administered land Language is carefully drafted to support transparency without fettering the Court's discretion. Hui Attendance & Apologies Record Template: Formal attendance record, including identity confirmation and online participation. Designed to align with Registrar expectations. Example Occupation Site Sketch Plan A clear example demonstrating how an occupation site may be defined for Court purposes, including boundaries, access, structures, and scale indicators. Pre-Filled Example Form 40 A worked, realistic example showing the level of detail and structure expected when completing the occupation order application. Official Māori Land Court Form 40 (Current Version) Included for convenience, so all documents are accessible in one place. Who This Is For ✔ Whānau preparing an occupation order ✔ Trustees or owners wanting structured preparation ✔ Applicants seeking to reduce delay and requisition risk Occupation orders can involve objections and complex ownership dynamics. Preparing properly before filing reduces avoidable delay and stress. This system does not provide legal representation. It prepares you to engage with the Māori Land Court correctly and confidently. Files are available for immediate download after purchase.
Succession Filing System Complete Step-by-Step Māori Land Court Application Pack Court-focused. Structured. Practical. This Succession Filing System is designed to help whānau prepare a clear, complete Māori Land Court succession application before filing. Incorrect or incomplete applications can result in requisitions and delays that set matters back months. This system is built to minimise that risk by guiding you through the process properly from the start. Instead of piecing information together from multiple websites, forms, and guesswork, everything you need is structured in one place. You are not buying generic information. You are buying a practical filing framework built specifically around how the Māori Land Court assesses succession applications. What’s Included Pre-Filled Example Forms (Forms 21, 22, and 24) Worked, realistic examples showing correct wording, structure, and level of detail expected by the Court. These are reference examples to guide you when completing your own official forms. Official Māori Land Court Forms (Current Versions) Clean copies of the relevant Court forms are included for convenience, so you are working from the correct documents. Court-Focused Succession Guidebook Explains: How the Māori Land Court approaches succession When hearings are required and when they are not Why are applications commonly delayed or requisitioned Practical issues that frequently arise in real Māori land cases This is not surface-level internet information. It is structured guidance based on real filing issues. Succession Preparation Template (Information-Gathering Layout) A structured worksheet designed to help you collect all required details before transferring them into the official forms. This template is not filed with the Court. It exists to prevent missed information and reduce errors. Editable Whakapapa Diagram: A clear, editable layout to map relationships accurately before filing. Incomplete or unclear whakapapa is one of the most common causes of delay — this tool helps reduce that risk. Who This Is For ✔ Whānau preparing a succession application ✔ People who want clarity before filing ✔ Those wanting to reduce delays and avoid common mistakes This system does not replace the Māori Land Court. It prepares you to engage with it properly. Files are available for immediate download after purchase.
General Land to Māori Freehold Land Conversion System Complete Māori Land Court Status Change Application Pack Structured. Court-focused. Long-term protection. This Conversion System is designed for owners seeking to convert general land to Māori freehold land under section 134 of Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993. Changing land status is not just a form exercise. It has long-term legal, governance, succession, and lending implications. This system provides structured guidance to help you prepare properly before filing with the Māori Land Court. It focuses on procedural realities, evidential requirements, and practical considerations that are often overlooked. What’s Included Conversion Guidebook (Updated January 2026) Explains: • The legal threshold under s 134 TTWMA • Step-by-step conversion process • Notification and evidential requirements • Realistic timeframes (commonly 3–6 months) • Common reasons applications are delayed • Lending and banking implications • Rating considerations • What occurs if landowners later seek status reversion • Strategic uses of conversion (papakāinga, protection from sale, succession planning) Written in plain English, grounded in Māori land reality — not generic summaries. Pre-Filled MLC Form 1 (Worked Example) A realistic example showing structure, wording, and the level of detail expected by the Court. Official MLC Form 1 (Current Version) Clean Court form included for convenience. Hui Documentation Templates • Attendance Register • Minutes Template for recording owner agreement Structured to support transparency and evidential clarity when presenting owner support to the Court. Who This Is For ✔ Owners wanting long-term protection of whenua ✔ Whānau planning papakāinga or development ✔ Trustees addressing fragmentation or succession issues ✔ Landowners seeking stronger intergenerational safeguards Conversion decisions have long-term consequences. Preparing properly reduces avoidable delay and misunderstanding. This system provides structured educational guidance and does not constitute legal representation. Files are available for immediate download after purchase.
Papakāinga Planning System - Comprehensive Māori Land Development Roadmap designed for whānau serious about building on their own whenua and avoiding preventable financial, legal, and relational mistakes. Papakāinga projects do not fail because of a lack of vision. They stall due to infrastructure costs, consent delays, trustee dynamics, funding gaps, and poor early planning. This system provides a structured, practitioner-level roadmap grounded in real Māori land development realities — not general-land theory and not glossy brochure optimism. It addresses what actually happens in Aotearoa papakāinga projects, including the hard parts. What This System Covers • Why a significant number of papakāinga projects stall — and how to structure yours differently • Realistic 2026 infrastructure and build costs, including servicing, access, power, wastewater, and consent pathways • Differences between relocatable cabins and permanent builds • Due diligence before spending money • Trustee approval processes and governance considerations • Council consent intersections and Māori Land Court touchpoints • Managing whānau expectations and internal conflict • Staged development planning (single home through to multi-dwelling papakāinga) Included Tools & Templates Structured planning checklists • Trustee request wording templates • Due diligence frameworks • Budget pressure-point indicators • Development staging models Designed to support informed decision-making before financial commitments are made. Tikanga underpins the entire system — including whānau wellbeing, trustee mana, long-term whenua protection, and intergenerational planning. This is not a government factsheet. It is a practical, reality-based development planning framework for Māori landowners wanting to move carefully and strategically. Files are available for immediate download after purchase.
Whānau Trust Formation System (Form 36) Complete Māori Land Court Application Pack Structured. Court-focused. Governance-aware. This Whānau Trust Formation System is designed to help whānau prepare a structured, Court-ready application to constitute a Whānau Trust under Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993. Establishing a Whānau Trust is not simply filing Form 36. It involves succession alignment, trustee suitability, ownership clarity, and governance implications. This system provides practical, Māori Land Court–focused preparation guidance so whānau can organise properly before filing. It is grounded in real Court process — not generic summaries. What’s Included Pre-Filled Example Forms (Forms 23, 36 & Document B1) Worked examples showing structure, wording, and level of detail expected by the Court. Includes: • Form 23 – Application to establish successors (where relevant prior to vesting) • Form 36 – Application to constitute a Whānau Trust • Document B1 – Consent to Act as Trustee Clean official Court forms are also included for convenience. Whānau Trust Guidebook (Practice-Based) Explains: • How Whānau Trusts operate in practice • What the Court considers before approving • Trustee responsibilities and suitability • Common Registrar issues and delays • Ownership and succession considerations prior to filing Focused on real Court expectations. Whānau Hui Minutes Template (Trust-Specific) Structured template designed for Whānau Trust decision-making, including trustee nominations, resolutions, and recorded support. Attendance & Apologies Register Formal attendance record to document participation and support, aligned with evidential clarity expected by the Court. Pre-Application Information Checklist (Form 36 Preparation Layout) A structured worksheet identifying: • Trustee details • Proposed trust order considerations • Ownership verification • Supporting documentation commonly required Designed to prevent incomplete or premature filing. Who This Is For ✔ Whānau seeking to protect land for future generations ✔ Trustees preparing a Whānau Trust application ✔ Owners wanting structured governance before fragmentation increases ✔ Those wanting to approach the Court organised and informed Whānau Trust applications require clarity around ownership, succession, and trustee responsibility. Preparing properly reduces avoidable delay and evidential gaps. This system provides structured educational guidance only. It does not constitute legal representation, and Court discretion always applies. Files are available for immediate download after purchase.
Ahu Whenua Trust Formation & Governance System (Form 37) Complete Māori Land Court Application & Governance Pack Structured. Court-focused. Long-term whenua management. This Ahu Whenua Trust System is designed for whānau seeking to establish and govern an Ahu Whenua Trust under Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993. Constituting an Ahu Whenua Trust is not simply filing Form 37. It establishes a long-term governance structure over Māori land, with trustee powers, fiduciary responsibilities, and accountability to owners. This system provides structured, Court-focused preparation guidance so whānau can approach formation and governance properly from the outset. It focuses on what the Māori Land Court expects — and what commonly causes delay or governance issues later. What’s Included Master Ahu Whenua Trust Guide (Plain-English, Practice-Based) Explains: • When an Ahu Whenua Trust is appropriate • Legal threshold and Court considerations • Trustee duties, risks, and accountability • Governance expectations in practice • Hui decision-making standards • Common governance failures and how to prevent them Grounded in Māori land realities — not generic summaries. Official Māori Land Court Forms (Current Versions) Included for convenience: • MLC Form 37 – Application to Constitute an Ahu Whenua Trust • MLC B1 – Trustee Consent Form • Ahu Whenua Trust Order template Provided so all documents are accessible in one place. Pre-Filled Example Forms (Guidance Only) Worked examples demonstrating structure, wording, and evidential clarity expected by the Court. Designed to reduce incomplete or inconsistent applications. Editable Hui & Governance Templates • Attendance register • Court-aligned hui minutes template • Decision-recording formats for trustee resolutions Structured to support proper governance from day one. Court-Ready Checklists Practical preparation and governance checklists covering: • Pre-filing requirements • Supporting documentation • Trustee appointment processes • Ongoing governance obligations • Managing trustee changes correctly Who This Is For ✔ Owners seeking structured long-term land management ✔ Trustees preparing an Ahu Whenua Trust application ✔ Whānau wanting governance clarity before development or leasing ✔ Blocks requiring stronger collective management Ahu Whenua Trust formation creates enduring governance responsibilities. Preparing properly reduces avoidable delay and strengthens long-term whenua protection. This system provides structured educational guidance only. It does not constitute legal representation, and Court discretion always applies. Files are available for immediate download after purchase.
Hardship Access Programme No Whānau Left Behind At He Whenua He Ture (HWHTC), our purpose is to support whānau navigating Māori Land Court processes. We recognise that financial hardship can be a genuine barrier. A limited hardship access option is available for: • Succession Filing System • Occupation Order Filing System This programme is intended for genuine financial hardship situations only. How It Works If cost is a genuine barrier, you may apply by: • Completing our contact form • Selecting “Hardship Access Request” • Providing a brief explanation of your circumstances We may request confirmation of hardship (e.g., Community Services Card or similar) and confirmation that the material is for your personal Māori Land Court matter. Applications are reviewed discreetly. You will receive a response within 2 working days. If approved, a complimentary access code will be issued. Important Hardship access is limited and assessed at our discretion. This programme applies to digital Filing Systems only and does not extend to strategy sessions or full-service mahi. Our Commitment HWHTC operates under tikanga values of manaakitanga and fairness. • Full-price purchases help sustain hardship access • Access is reviewed carefully to ensure integrity of the programme • Our goal remains the same — prepared, informed whānau engaging confidently with the Court
Koha Contribution – Support Whānau in Hardship Help Sustain Access He Whenua He Ture (HWHTC) operates a limited Hardship Access Programme for whānau experiencing genuine financial hardship. Koha contributions help sustain this programme and ensure structured Filing Systems remain accessible where cost is a genuine barrier. This is not charity. It is community-backed access grounded in tikanga and reciprocity. How Your Koha Is Used Koha contributions may support: • Complimentary access to Succession or Occupation Filing Systems • Partial credits toward hardship-approved cases • Ongoing updating of Court-aligned resources • Maintaining accessible educational materials for whānau Koha does not fund legal representation. It supports structured access to preparation tools. Contribution Options You may contribute any amount. Suggested levels: $25 – Contributes toward hardship Filing System access $50 – Supports partial hardship access allocation $100 – Sponsors one full Filing System for a hardship-approved whānau $250+ – Supports multiple hardship allocations Custom contributions are welcome. Accountability Hardship access is assessed at our discretion and allocated within programme limits. We record and monitor hardship allocations internally to ensure fairness and sustainability. Where appropriate, annual summaries of hardship access may be shared. HWHTC remains independent and tikanga-led. Those in a position to contribute help ensure access remains available for those who cannot. Nāu te rourou, nāku te rourou, ka ora ai te iwi.
Need help choosing the right resource?
Every whānau situation is different.
If you’re unsure which guide, template, or form best suits your needs, book a consultation.
We’ll walk you through the options and help you prepare a clear, correct application that’s ready for submission.