Te Takutai Moana Act 2011, s 9(1)
Te Takutai Moana Act 2011 allows Māori to gain recognition of two kinds of rights:
“customary marine title”, which is basically about some of the elements of ownership and possession, and
“protected customary rights”, which is basically about use and activities.
Note: Some of the customary rights discussed in this section (or rights very similar to them) might exist for your group even if they’re not formally recognised under Te Takutai Moana Act. For example, if you’re gathering hāngi stones now, it’s likely you can legally continue to do that. It’s a good idea to get advice from a lawyer about whether it’s worth spending the time and money in your particular case getting recognition under Te Takutai Moana Act. For legal help, you can start by contacting your local Community Law Centre.