Buddle Findlay has a specialist team providing Māori law advice, primarily to the Crown.

We assist the Crown on:

  • Treaty of Waitangi settlement negotiations
  • Foreshore and seabed negotiations
  • Drafting Deeds of Settlement or Agreements in relation to these negotiations
  • A range of policy development matters in relation to Treaty of Waitangi settlements and foreshore and seabed negotiations.

For private clients our team has advised on property issues relating to ownership and interests over Māori land. 

Recent work

  • Assisting the Office of Treaty Settlements to reach full and final settlement with Ngāti Kuia, Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō and Rangitāne o Wairau in relation to overlapping claims in Te Tau Ihu (the top of the South Island), which included developing redress and advising on, negotiating, and drafting the Deeds of Settlement that were signed on 23 October, 29 October and 6 November 2010 respectively
  • Assisting the Office of Treaty Settlements in negotiating with Waikato-Tainui (and other river iwi) in relation to the Waikato River, including advising on, negotiating and drafting the co-governance and co-management arrangements for the Waikato-Tainui Deed of Settlement that was signed in December 2009
  • Advising the Crown in the revision of the Foreshore and Seabed Act 2004
  • Advising a private trust on its options regarding squatters on Māori freehold land
  • Working with the Crown on the Te Hiku settlements covering the top of the North Island
  • Advising the Office of Treaty Settlements on the Ngāti Manawa and Ngāti Whare Deeds of Settlement that were signed in December 2009, including advising on and negotiating the unique co-management models for the Whirinaki Forest Park, and the Rangitaiki River
  • Advising the Foreshore and Seabed Unit on the foreshore and seabed negotiations with Ngāti Porou and Te Whanau a Apanui, including advising on, negotiating and assisting in the development of unique redress and the drafting of the Deeds of Agreement
  • Advising numerous corporate clients on the use and alienation of Māori freehold land in the context of infrastructure development