This research summary examines how land tenure, land quality and location affect rural land use, with a focus on implications for Māori freehold land. It compares four land uses — dairy, sheep and beef, forestry, and scrub — and reports that Māori freehold land is often less intensively developed than comparable general land, even after land quality and remoteness are taken into account.
The summary also discusses why this matters for policy. It outlines how multiple ownership, administration barriers, poor land quality and distance from markets can limit development options, and notes that some environmental policies may have uneven effects on Māori landowners.
This paper explores how land ownership policies impact forest cover in New Zealand.
A model to study land use changes and their effects in rural New Zealand.
A comprehensive dataset that tracks how rural land is used across Aotearoa.
This paper discusses carbon farming on Māori land, its benefits, and decision-making challenges.
Learn about Māori land history, ownership, and its significance for iwi and whānau.
Learn about Māori land ownership, its history, and how it works today.
This study explores how different governance structures affect Māori land decisions on carbon farming.
This paper explores how Aotearoa sheep and beef farms react to climate change policies.
Discover how low-emissions farming could shape the future of sheep, beef, and dairy in Aotearoa.
Find out how to access information about Māori land and its ownership and governance.
Learn about Māori land, its history, and different types of collective ownership.
A data-driven model to explore how policies and land use affect the environment in New Zealand.
Rural survey data for understanding New Zealand's farming and planning needs.
Māori traditions of using fire are explored for guiding modern fire management in New Zealand.
This paper explores challenges and opportunities for Māori landowners in native forestry.
Learn key words and concepts relating to Māori land ownership.
Get ready for your journey to becoming a Māori land owner.
Hear about how climate change could reshape agriculture and land use decisions in Aotearoa.
Learn how to apply for succession to Māori land after the loss of a whānau member.
A report on measuring greenhouse gas emissions on Māori farms.
Read about the impacts different Aotearoa land use change scenarios might have on cliamte and socio-economic outcomes.