Local Government (Rating) Act 2002

Rating of Māori freehold land - Māori freehold land in multiple ownership

94: Appointment of person to receive notices

You could also call this:

"Choosing someone to get important papers for Māori land owned by multiple people"

When you own Māori freehold land with others, a special rule applies. The Māori Land Court can choose one of the owners, or someone who acts for the owners, to get important papers like rates assessments and invoices. This person is called the ratepayer and their name is recorded in special databases.

The Court makes this choice when the local council asks them to, unless it's not reasonable or practical to do so. The person's name is then added to the rating information database and the district valuation roll, with the words "(court appointee)" after it. This is how the Court handles rates for Māori freehold land owned by multiple people, unless section 92(2) applies or the land is managed by trustees.

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This page was last updated on 18 July 2025

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM132779.

Topics:

Māori affairs > Māori landGovernment and voting > Local councilsHousing and property > Land use

93: Limitation on trustee liability, or

"Trustees of Māori land only pay rates from the land's income, not their own money."

95: Effect of appointment of owner or agent, or

"What happens when someone is chosen to deal with rates for Māori freehold land"

Part 4Rating of Māori freehold land
Māori freehold land in multiple ownership

94Appointment of person to receive notices

Unless section 92(2) applies, or the land is vested in trustees, this section applies to rateable Māori freehold land in multiple ownership.
Unless it would be unreasonable or impracticable to do so, the Māori Land Court, on application by the local authority, must appoint one of the owners, or an agent of the owners, to receive rates assessments and rates invoices for Māori freehold land in multiple ownership.
The name of the owner or agent appointed under subsection (2) must be entered as the ratepayer in the rating information database and the district valuation roll, followed by the words (court appointee).