Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993, ss 44, 45, 773
The Chief Judge of the Māori Land Court has special powers to change an order of the court if it was wrong, whether factually or legally, as a result of a mistake or omission by the court or the registrar or a mistake or omission in the presentation of the facts to the court or the registrar.
An example of a decision that’s wrong in fact might be that a legally entitled child of a deceased person was deliberately left out on succession. An example of a decision that’s wrong in law might be one that was made under the previous law (the Māori Affairs Act 1953) rather than the current Act.
The Chief Judge can cancel, confirm or amend the original order or make new orders to put right any mistake or omission.
The Chief Judge can exercise these powers in relation to any Māori Land Court order, even those that are more than 10 years old and that therefore can’t otherwise be challenged as invalid.