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Title / Explain Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993, its purpose, and compare it with the Māori Affairs Act 1953
Level / 5 / Credits / 8
Purpose / People credited with this unit standard are able to: explain the powers and duties of the Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993 (TTWM) in relation to the Māori land court; explain the purpose of the TTWM; and compare the TTWM and the Māori Affairs Act 1953 in terms of their provisions for Māori land.
Classification / Whenua > Te Whakamau Whenua
Available grade / Achieved
Explanatory notes
1The context of the assessment of this unit standard is limited to local rohe or takiwā. Where 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 – oral presentations, visual presentations, written presentations. Where appropriate the presentation should include reference to appropriate legislation or policy statements.
3Māori Affairs Act (1953) – The Māori Affairs Act 1953 forced unproductive Māori land into use. Anyone who could show the Māori Land Court that a piece of good land was not being used could apply to have it vested in trustees. This act, which allowed some flexibility in land management (such as under trusts), remained the governing legislation for Māori land for 40 years.Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993 replaced the Maori Affairs Act 1953.
4Definition
Minority and majority interests – refers to shares in land ownership that may be accessed in Māori Land Court records, independent ownership registers, Land Information NZ records (LINZ), and Māori Trust Office records.
5Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993 will be referred to as TTWM. (Act available at;
Outcomes and evidence requirements
Outcome 1
Explain the powers and duties of the TTWM in relation to the Māori Land Court.
Evidence requirements
1.1The powers and duties of the TTWM are explained in terms of their influence on the Māori land court.
Rangemay include but is limited to – empowering Māori land owners, the protection of minority and majority interests, the communication of information to Māori land owners.
Outcome 2
Explain the purpose of the TTWM.
Evidence requirements
2.1The purpose of the TTMW is explained in terms of the retention of Māori land.
2.2The purpose of the TTWM is explained in terms of empowering Māori land owners.
Rangemay include but is not limited to – decision making, ability to incorporate, establish papakāinga, and establish trusts and incorporations;
evidence of one is required.
2.3The purpose of the TTWM is explained in terms of restricting alienation of Māori land.
Rangemay include but is not limited to – sale, lease, mortgage, gift, easements, preferred classes of alienees;
evidence of two is required.
Outcome 3
Compare the TTWM and the Māori Affairs Act 1953 in term of their provisions for Māori land.
Evidence requirements
3.1The TTWM and the Māori Affairs Act are compared in terms of the provisions for the retention of Māori land.
3.2The TTWM and the Māori Affairs Act are compared in relation to the alienation of Māori land.
3.3The TTWM and the Māori Affairs Act are compared in relation to the fragmentation of interests in Māori land.
3.4The TTWM and the Māori Affairs Act are compared in relation to Māori trusts and Māori incorporations.
Planned review date / 31 December 2019Status information and last date for assessment for superseded versions
Process / Version / Date / Last Date for AssessmentRegistration / 1 / 23 November 1999 / December 2012
Revision / 2 / 14 April 2005 / December 2012
Review / 3 / 17 December 2010 / 31 December 2017
Review / 4 / 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