Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993, ss 109, 109AA
If the deceased owner of the land didn’t leave a will (this is called “intestacy”), the successors are determined by the following rules:
A deceased’s surviving spouse or civil union or de facto partner receives a life interest, but they are not a successor. Their interest will pass to the deceased’s children once the spouse or partner dies or remarries or enters into a civil union or de facto relationship.
The deceased’s children will be the successors.
If the deceased had no children, the deceased’s siblings (brothers and sisters) will be the successors.
If the deceased owner had no children or siblings, it will be necessary to find out where the deceased’s interests came from and from that whakapapa work out who the interests should now go to.