Māori landowners call for change: survey reveals divides and strong aspirations for whenua futures - Māori landowners survey

Māori landowners call for change: survey reveals divides and strong aspirations for whenua futures - Māori landowners survey

Bioeconomy Science Institute - Agresearch Group

This 2025 report from AgResearch and Kānuka Charitable Trust presents findings from a survey of 179 Māori landowners across Aotearoa. It explores the relationship between shareholders, beneficiaries, and governance groups — how well trustees engage with landowners, how clearly trade-offs are communicated, and confidence in sustainable management.

Findings were polarised: some felt well-represented, others disconnected. Qualitative responses raised concerns about transparency, trustee conduct, bureaucratic barriers, and a desire for governance models rooted in tikanga Māori.

Bioeconomy Science Institute - Agresearch Group
Open LinkOpen Kete

Have you thought about

Governance

  • What is governance?

    Whenua
    Governance
    Whenua Māori

    Learn about whenua Māori governance, its structures, and why it's important.

  • 12 principles of governance

    Whenua
    Governance
    Whenua Māori

    Explore 12 governance principles guiding Māori land trustees in decision-making.

  • Challenges and opportunities with native forestry on Māori land

    Climate
    Biodiversity
    Collaboration
    Erosion
    Forestry
    Governance
    Regeneration
    Sequestration
    Sustainability
    Whenua Māori

    This paper explores challenges and opportunities for Māori landowners in native forestry.

Governance

  • Māori land owners' decision-making processes around native forest regeneration

    Climate
    Biodiversity
    Community
    Conservation
    Forestry
    Governance
    Regeneration
    Sequestration
    Sustainability
    Whenua Māori

    This report explores how Māori landowners decide on native forest regeneration and carbon farming.

  • Carbon Farming on Māori land: Do governance structures matter?

    Climate
    Emissions reduction
    Forestry
    Governance
    On-farm actions
    Sequestration
    Sustainability
    Whenua Māori

    This study explores how different governance structures affect Māori land decisions on carbon farming.

  • Māori Governance Video Toolkit

    Whenua
    Governance
    Whenua Māori

    Tools, guidance, and insights for Māori trustees

Governance

  • Your trust's responsibilities

    Whenua
    Governance
    Whenua Māori

    Learn about trustee obligations, governance, and running effective hui for Māori land trusts.

  • Check how well your trust is doing

    Enterprise
    Collaboration
    Governance
    Succession
    Whenua Māori

    Check your trust's governance health and get advice about how to get the best outcomes for your whānau and whenua.

An alternative perspective

Explore related content

Whakahaerehia ō whenua | Manage your land

Whenua
Governance
Whenua Māori

Learn how to manage Māori land through trusts and incorporations for your whānau.

Governance roles and structures

Whenua
Governance
Whenua Māori

Learn about governance options for Māori land and how to set up trusts or incorporations to govern them.

What to include in your trust order

Whenua
Governance
Whenua Māori

Get guidance about what to include in the trust order for your whenua.

Tairāwhiti Whenua Charitable Trust

Enterprise
Collaboration
Community
Governance
Whenua Māori

Tairāwhiti Whenua Charitable Trust supports Māori landowners in Tairāwhiti, managing land and resources.

Enhancing Farm Assurance: A White Paper

Climate
Biodiversity
Community
Governance
Innovation
Policy
Sustainability
Water

This white paper explores ways to improve farm assurance in New Zealand, focusing on trust and stakeholder engagement.

Enhancing Māori agribusiness through kaitiakitanga tools

Enterprise
Agribusiness
Mātauranga
Sustainability
Whenua Māori

This report discusses enhancing Māori agribusiness using kaitiakitanga tools for sustainability.

Farming, kaitiakitanga, and environmental outcomes in Bay of Plenty

Climate
Community
Dairy
Emissions reduction
Governance
Greenhouse gas
Horticulture
Sustainability
Whenua Māori

This case study explores what it means to farm in alignment with Māori values and how it can improve the environment.

Māori AgriBusiness

Enterprise
Agribusiness
Collaboration
Community
Governance
Planning
Whenua Māori

Six steps to improve the performance of your whenua Māori enterprise.

Getting help for your trust

Whenua
Governance
Whenua Māori

Get guidance for trusts facing issues with vision, strategy, or consensus.

Recruiting directors/trustees

Whenua
Governance
Whenua Māori

Guidance on recruiting directors and trustees for various Māori organisations.

Carbon farming on Māori land: insights on the decision-making process

Climate
Emissions reduction
Forestry
Governance
On-farm actions
Sequestration
Sustainability
Whenua Māori

This paper discusses carbon farming on Māori land, its benefits, and decision-making challenges.

Māori Land and Carbon Farming

Climate
Forestry
Governance
Whenua Māori

How the ETS and carbon forestry apply to whenua Māori.