Māori customary land rights

Māori customary land rights refer to the traditional ways Māori people identify, use, and manage land based on their cultural and ancestral connection. These rights recognize Māori authority over land through whakapapa (ancestry) and collective ownership, rather than individual titles. While legislation has formalized land ownership, customary rights often influence decision-making, use, and stewardship of land, emphasizing principles like mana (authority) and kaitiakitanga (guardianship). These rights coexist with the legal system, upholding Māori's cultural relationship with the land and their ongoing role in its management.