Marine & Coastal Area (MACA)

Muaūpoko Tribal Authority is participating in the Marine and Coastal Area process to seek recognition of Muaūpoko customary rights and interests in the takutai moana. In the High Court proceedings, we present the tikanga, whakapapa, history and evidence that speak to our connection with this area.

Muaūpoko rohe

This map shows the wider Muaūpoko rohe. It is provided for context and does not define the area covered by the Marine and Coastal Area applications or the Court’s decisions.

Our role in MACA

Our role includes:

• presenting Muaūpoko tikanga, whakapapa, history and evidence
• supporting kaumātua and other witnesses involved in the proceedings
• working with legal counsel and technical experts
• protecting and advancing Muaūpoko customary rights and interests in the takutai moana
• engaging with the Crown, other applicants and relevant parties where required
• keeping whānau informed as the proceedings progress.

Current status

Muaūpoko Tribal Authority is an applicant in the High Court proceedings known as Group N, Stage 1(a).

The hearing area extends generally from the northern bank of the Rangitīkei River south to Whareroa, north of Paekākāriki, and includes Kapiti Island and its associated islets.

Muaūpoko Tribal Authority’s application is CIV-2017-485-261.

Other iwi, hapū and whānau also have applications within the same hearing area, including a separate application on behalf of Ngāti Tamarangi hapū of Muaūpoko.

Protected Customary Rights

On 4 September 2025, the High Court released its decision on applications for Protected Customary Rights within the Group N hearing area.

The Court recognised a number of Protected Customary Rights for Muaūpoko relating to customary activities including:

• whitebaiting
• planting and collecting pīngao
• use of tauranga waka
• customary navigation
• collecting pumice
• collecting sand, gravel and washed-up coal
• collecting driftwood
• collecting kōhatu and other customary materials
• collecting clay and earth pigments
• collecting onewa and pakohe stones.

Further work is required around mapping and the precise areas to which some of the recognised activities apply.

The decision is recorded as Re Taueki (Ngāti Tamarangi) & Ors [2025] NZHC 2554.

Customary Marine Title

The High Court originally released a Customary Marine Title decision for the Group N Stage 1(a) proceedings on 9 June 2025.

Following that decision, Parliament passed the Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) (Customary Marine Title) Amendment Act 2025.

The amendments changed the statutory test for Customary Marine Title and required affected applications to be reconsidered under the amended legislation.

As a result, the June 2025 decision does not determine the current status of the Muaūpoko Customary Marine Title application.

September 2026 rehearing

The Group N Stage 1(a) Customary Marine Title rehearing commenced in the High Court at Te Whanganui-a-Tara | Wellington on 21 September 2026.

Muaūpoko participated in the rehearing, which reconsidered applications under the amended legislation.

A new High Court determination on Customary Marine Title is awaited.

Muaūpoko Tribal Authority will update whānau when further directions, judgments or significant developments are released.

About the Marine and Coastal Area process

The Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Act 2011 provides a process through which iwi, hapū and whānau can seek legal recognition of customary interests in the common marine and coastal area.

Two forms of recognition are relevant to the Muaūpoko proceedings:

Customary Marine Title (CMT)
Recognition of customary interests in an area where the statutory requirements set out in the Act are met.

Protected Customary Rights (PCRs)
Recognition of particular customary activities that have been exercised in accordance with tikanga and continue to be exercised in the relevant area.

Applications can be determined through the High Court or through engagement with the Crown.

Keeping whānau informed

Marine and Coastal Area proceedings can involve a number of stages, including evidence, hearings, mapping, Court directions and judgments.

We will continue to share significant developments affecting Muaūpoko through our website, pānui and iwi communications.