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Title / Demonstrate knowledge of customary, traditional, and historical Māori land tenure and administration systems
Level / 4 / Credits / 6
Purpose / People credited with this unit standard are able to explain key customary, traditional, and historical factors that resulted in the land tenure systems under which Māori land is presently administered and explain the proposed benefits of Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993 in addressing historical issues regarding Māori land administration.
Classification / Whenua > Te Whakamau Whenua
Available grade / Achieved
Explanatory notes
1Where local rohe are also occupied by a number of other iwi or hapū, the tangata whenua or mana whenua view will take precedence. Other iwi or hapū views should be encouraged in order to enrich and enhance understanding of key Māori concepts and practices.
2Assessment against this unit standard may include but is not limited to evidence presented in – oral presentations, visual presentations, written presentations. Where appropriate the presentation should include reference to appropriate legislation or policy statements.
3An understanding of Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993 and its subsequent amendments, recent case law, Māori Land Court decisions, Environment Court, and Court of Appeal decisions is required.
4Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993 will be referred to as TTWM.
5Local variations of key historical factors will occur in relation to specific decisions.
6References may include but are not limited to the following –
Acheson, F.O.V. The ancient Māori system of land tenure (Victoria University, 1913).
Browne, E. H. The case of the war in New Zealand: from authentic documents. (Deighton, Bell, and Co: Cambridge, 1860).
Ballara, A. Iwi: The dynamics of Māori tribal organisation from c.1769 to c.1945. (Victoria University Press: Wellington, 1998).
Kawharu, I. H. Māori land tenure: studies of a changing institution. (Claredon Press: Oxford,1977).
7Definition
Mana whenua refers to the status of the title to land.
Wāhi tapu refers to land of special historical significance or spiritual or emotional association with Māori.
Whenua whanaketanga – land development.
Whenua riihi – leased land.
8Web-based references may include but are not limited to the following:
Please read the privacy rights section on some websites for guidance around property rights to the information.
Outcomes and evidence requirements
Outcome 1
Explain key customary, traditional, and historical factors that resulted in the land tenure systems under which Māori land is presently administered.
Evidence requirements
1.1Key customary and traditional Māori customary land tenure systems are explained in terms of the administration of Māori land.
Rangemay include but is not limited to – take ohaki, mahinga kai, take taunaha or take whenua kite hou, take raupatu, take tūpuna, take tuku, and ahi kā;
evidence of two is required.
1.2 Customary and traditional land tenure systems are explained in terms of their
application in the native land court in 1865.
1.3Alienation of Māori land is explained in relation to the establishment of the Native Māori Land Court 1865-66 and TTWM.
Rangekey issues may include but are not limited to – raupatu, selling of Māori land, legislation, sub-dividing of Māori land;
evidence of two is required.
Outcome 2
Explain the proposed benefits of TTWM in addressing historical issues regarding Māori land administration.
Rangeevidence of two benefits is required.
Evidence requirements
2.1The proposed benefits of TTWM are explained in terms of its provision for the retention of Māori land in Māori ownership.
Rangemay include but is not limited to – whakapapa, tuku, whāngai, hoko, mana whenua;
evidence of two is required.
2.2The proposed benefits of TTWM are explained in terms of its provision for the legal recognition of taonga tuku iho.
Rangemay include but is not limited to – marae, wāhi tapu, awa tapu, maunga tapu, moana, roto, puna, repo, ngahere, ngāwhā.
2.3The proposed benefits of TTWM are explained in terms of its provisions for the establishment of trusts and incorporations to manage Māori land.
Rangemay include but is not limited to – whānau trust, ahuwhenua trust, whenua, tōpū trust, pūtea trust, kaitiaki trust, incorporations;
evidence is required of one trust and one corporation.
2.4The proposed benefits of TTWM are explained in terms of its provisions to address issues on the alienation of Māori land.
Rangemay include but is not limited to – raupatu, whenua riihi, hoko whenua, whenua whanaketanga, whenua rāhui, papakāinga;
evidence of two is required.
Replacement information / This unit standard replaced unit standard 16372.Planned review date / 31 December 2019
Status information and last date for assessment for superseded versions
Process / Version / Date / Last Date for AssessmentRegistration / 1 / 17 December 2010 / 31 December 2017
Review / 2 / 19 November 2015 / N/A
Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR) reference / 0166
This CMR can be accessed at
Please note
Providers must be granted consent to assess against standards (accredited) by NZQA, before they can report credits from assessment against unit standards or deliver courses of study leading to that assessment.
Industry Training Organisations must be granted consent to assess against standards by NZQA before they can register credits from assessment against unit standards.
Providers and Industry Training Organisations, which have been granted consent and which are assessing against unit standards must engage with the moderation system that applies to those standards.
Requirements for consent to assess and an outline of the moderation system that applies to this standard are outlined in the Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR). The CMR also includes useful information about special requirements for organisations wishing to develop education and training programmes, such as minimum qualifications for tutors and assessors, and special resource requirements.
Comments on this unit standard
Please contact NZQA Māori Qualifications Services if you wish to suggest changes to the content of this unit standard.
NZQA Māori Qualification ServicesSSB Code 194 / New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2018