Title system for Maori land

Press, 30 October 1981, Page 21

Title system for Maori land

PA Wellington All Maori land will eventually be provided with a fully guaranteed title under the Land Transfer Act, according to the Minister of Maori Affairs (Mr Couch). He said that he had formally adopted a recommendation made last year by the Royal commission on Maori Courts that steps be taken to bring all Maori land into the land-transfer system.

The process would take some time, especially where land was not surveyed. The commission believed that the present system put the Maori people in their

land dealings at a considerable disadvantage compared with other New Zealanders. . Under the present system Maori land was recorded in the Maori Land Court and did not need to be registered in the Land Transfer Office. The record of ownership in the Maori Land Court would continue.

Maori land would not lose its character and status by • registration in the Land . Transfer Office. Appropriate 1 steps had been taken to ensure that all Maori land <, already included, or to be t included, in the land-transfer I system would be clearly I identifiable as Maori land. I