The Māori Land Service Programme has started working with Māori land owners on regional case studies to help inform the advisory and development services that may be offered in the future by the Māori Land Service.

The Māori Land Service is currently being established to support Māori land owners under Te Ture Whenua Bill, which is now expected to be passed by Parliament after the General Election.

Te Tai Rāwhiti is the first region where the MLS Programme has partnered up with Māori land owners and iwi organisations in Te Tai Rāwhiti to gain in-depth knowledge of challenges and opportunities for local Māori land owners.

The purpose of the case studies is to get an understanding at the level of individual land blocks of how the Māori Land Service will be able to assist land owners in regions like Te Tai Rāwhiti which have significant Māori land.

The case studies will look into options for the utilisation of their whenua, whether for economic, cultural, conservation or any other purpose.

The case study will inform the final design of the advisory and development services provided by the Māori Land Service when it commences, 18 months after the passage of Te Ture Whenua Māori Bill. No final decisions have been made about the delivery of services by the Māori Land Service.