Legal Dictionary

Taonga

Taonga

This Māori word has actually made its way into English dictionaries, where it is defined as “treasure” or “anything highly prized.” A definition is also included in a dictionary of Māori legal terms published in 2013. Examples of its use in statutes include the Māori Language Act 1987, which states in the preamble: “Whereas in the Treaty of Waitangi the Crown confirmed and guaranteed to the Māori people, among other things, all their taonga: And whereas the Māori language is one such taonga.” The Resource Management Act 1991 states as a matter of national importance “the relationship of Maori and their culture and traditions with their ancestral lands, water, sites, waahi tapu, and other taonga.” The National Library of New Zealand (Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa) Act 2003 also includes the term in its purpose section: “The purpose of this Act is to provide for the preservation, protection, development, and accessibility, as appropriate, for all the people of New Zealand, of the collections of the National Library (which includes the Alexander Turnbull Library) in a manner consistent with their status as documentary heritage and taonga.

“Taonga”is contained in a number of New Zealand statutes, including the following statutes:

  • Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga Act 2014
  • Ngāi Tahu Claims Settlement Act 1998
  • Protected Objects Act 1975
  • Ngāti Awa Claims Settlement Act 2005
  • Te Uri o Hau Claims Settlement Act 2002
  • Ngati Tama Claims Settlement Act 2003
  • Ngati Ruanui Claims Settlement Act 2003
  • Te Roroa Claims Settlement Act 2008
  • Ngāti Mākino Claims Settlement Act 2012
  • Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Act 2011
  • Ngāti Tuwharetoa (Bay of Plenty) Claims Settlement Act 2005
  • Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō, Ngāti Kuia, and Rangitāne o Wairau Claims Settlement Act 2014
  • Ngāti Rangiwewehi Claims Settlement Act 2014
  • Ngāti Kōata, Ngāti Rārua, Ngāti Tama ki Te Tau Ihu, and Te Ātiawa o Te Waka-a-Māui Claims Settlement Act 2014
  • Ngāti Manuhiri Claims Settlement Act 2012
  • Waitaha Claims Settlement Act 2013
  • Ngāti Apa (North Island) Claims Settlement Act 2010
  • Ngāti Manawa Claims Settlement Act 2012
  • Tapuika Claims Settlement Act 2014
  • Maungaharuru-Tangitū Hapū Claims Settlement Act 2014
  • Reserves Act 1977
  • Affiliate Te Arawa Iwi and Hapu Claims Settlement Act 2008
  • Ngāti Whare Claims Settlement Act 2012
  • Ngāti Rangiteaorere Claims Settlement Act 2014
  • Ngai Tāmanuhiri Claims Settlement Act 2012

This maori legal term is contained also in several New Zealand court decisions, including the following ones:

  • 1. Ngati Apa v Attorney-General [2003] NZCA 117; [2003] 3 NZLR 643 (19 June 2003) 
  • 10. The Trustees of the Pukeroa Oruawhata Trust v Mitchell [2008] NZCA 518 (2 December 2008) 
  • 11. Paki v Attorney-General [2009] NZCA 584; [2011] 1 NZLR 125; (2009) 10 NZCPR 812 (11 December 2009) 
  • 12. Edwards v Legal Services Agency [2002] NZCA 273; [2003] 1 NZLR 145 (1 October 2002) 
  • 13. McGuire v Hastings District Council [1999] NZCA 318; [2000] 1 NZLR 679; [2000] NZRMA 337; (2000) 6 ELRNZ 102 (16 December 1999) 
  • 14. Takamore v Clarke [2011] NZCA 587 (23 November 2011) 
  • 15. Whangamata Marina Society Inc v Attorney-General HC Auckland CIV 2006-485-000709 [2006] NZHC 1066; (2006) 12 ELRNZ 330; [2007] 1 NZLR 252 (18 September 2006) 
  • 16. Takamore v Clarke [2011] NZCA 587 (23 November 2011) 
  • 17. Sustain Our Sounds Incorporated v The New Zealand King Salmon Company Limited & Ors [2014] NZSC 40 (17 April 2014) 
  • 18. New Health New Zealand Inc v South Taranaki District Council [2014] NZHC 993 (14 May 2014) 
  • 19. The Great Christchurch Buildings Trust v Church Property Trustees [2012] NZHC 3045 (15 November 2012) 
  • 2. Valuer-General v Mangatu Incorporation CA 219/96 [1997] NZCA 147; [1997] 3 NZLR 641; (1997) 3 NZ ConvC 192,678 (16 September 1997) 
  • 20. Kameta v Nicholas [2012] NZCA 350; [2012] 3 NZLR 573 (3 August 2012) 
  • 3. Rameka v Hall [2013] NZCA 203 (5 June 2013) 
  • 4. Mahuta v Attorney-General CA126/89 [1989] NZCA 175; [1989] 2 NZLR 513 ; (1989) 1 NZ ConvC 190,297 (3 October 1989) 
  • 5. Environmental Defence Society Incorporated v The New Zealand King Salmon Company Limited & Ors [2014] NZSC 38 (17 April 2014) 
  • 6. High Country Rosehip Orchards Limited v Mackenzie District Council [2011] NZEnvC 387 (12 December 2011) 
  • 7. NZ Maori Council and others v The Attorney-General and others [2013] NZSC 6 (27 February 2013) 
  • 8. Estate Homes Ltd v Waitakere City Council [2005] NZCA 271; (2006) 12 ELRNZ 157; [2006] 2 NZLR 619; [2006] NZRMA 308 (11 November 2005) 
  • 9. Central Plains Water Trust v Ngai Tahu Properties Ltd [2008] NZCA 71; (2008) 14 ELRNZ 61; [2008] NZRMA 200 (19 March 2008) 

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