After the Land March

The Maori Land March has had hitherto unrealised effects upon its own people. Many absentee landowners have rediscovered their roots and become aware of the land struggle and its broader significance. There has been a sudden burgeoning resistance against alienations or transfers of interests from these people. Even if their share of the land is worth barely $100 many Maoris are now determined to keep their "standing place for the feet".

Similarly it appears that to a limited extent the Maori Land Court (as far as a predominantly pakeha institution can be) is no longer so obviously "assimilationist".

Recent decisions of Russel in the Tairawhiti Registry mark an overt attempt to re-establish the quasi-parental jurisdiction and protect the Maori minority land-owners from pakeha's who seek lenient leases of alienation (6).