Land Returned to Te Tauihu Descendants After Litigation and Crown Deal

Judith Collins says the Government is pleased to bring the complex legal matter to a respectful conclusion.

The Government has announced a landmark agreement that will see approximately 7,583 acres (3,068 hectares) of land across the Top of the South returned to the descendants of its original Māori owners, ending a long-running private litigation that traces its origins back to the 1840s. Attorney-General Judith Collins and Conservation Minister Tama Potaka confirmed the arrangement, which also includes continued public access to some of New Zealand’s most iconic recreation areas and a $420 million payment.

Judith Collins says the agreement is a significant resolution but is not a Treaty settlement.

“This is very different from Treaty settlements… In this case, we are simply returning land to its rightful and legal owners.”

A Case Rooted in 19th-Century Promises

The litigation was brought by Kaumātua Rore Stafford in 2010 but stems from a Crown agreement made nearly 180 years ago. In the 1840s, the Crown agreed to reserve 15,100 acres (6,110 hectares)—a tenth of the land granted to the New Zealand Company—for the original Māori owners as part payment for the transaction.

That promise was never honoured. However, after generations of inaction:

• In 2017, the Supreme Court ruled the Crown owed a legal duty to the owners.

• In 2024, the High Court confirmed the Crown had always held parts of the land on trust for the descendants, cementing their legal ownership over areas in Nelson, Tasman, and Golden Bay.

Public Access Preserved for Iconic Tourism Sites

Despite the ownership change, the public will continue to enjoy unfettered access to treasured natural destinations. The agreement ensures:

• Kaiteriteri Recreation Reserve remains open.

• The Abel Tasman Coast Track Great Walk continues to operate under a 25-year public access agreement.

• Tourism operators and visitors can continue to book and use facilities as normal.

Minister Tama Potaka says the Department of Conservation has worked closely with landowners to maintain continuity.

“Visitors, tourism operators, and local communities can be assured there will be no immediate changes to access or day-to-day use.”

Schools, Roads, and Public Services Unaffected

The Crown has long used pockets of the land for public services, including roads, schools, and conservation areas. Under the agreement:

• These facilities will continue to operate normally.

• The Crown will be able to lease land where necessary to maintain essential public use.

• The transition will be managed carefully to avoid disruption to communities, tenants, or local businesses.

Potaka says both parties recognise the land’s dual role as a site of deep cultural significance and a major public recreation asset.

“Everyone acknowledges that the Great Walk and Reserve are important sites, much loved by locals and visitors, and of deep significance to the original owners.”

A Historic Resolution Years in the Making

Judith Collins says the Government is pleased to bring the complex legal matter to a respectful conclusion.

“I want to acknowledge Mr Stafford and his whānau, and to thank them for their patience across many years.”

The agreement restores ownership to Te Tauihu descendants while protecting public access and providing certainty for local communities, marking a rare and significant resolution of private property litigation with national implications.