Story: Take whenua – Māori land tenure

Ngā take whenua

This manuscript by Ngāti Porou leader Rāpata Wahawaha sets out 28 different take whenua, or principles relating to land ownership. Ultimately, these can be boiled down to a handful.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, Elsdon Best Collection

Reference: MS-Papers 0072-39E

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Paul Meredith, Take whenua – Māori land tenure – Take whenua – principles of land-use rights, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/document/18379/nga-take-whenua (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Paul Meredith, published 1 March 2009.

Comments

Nadine
19 August 2010

I do not agree with the caption. Unfortunately whoever wrote this is unaware of the sensitivity of traditional knowledge. I would recommend the Maori Land Court be contacted to ensure comments in relation to Maori Land be culturally sensitive. Please review this.