The bill would also continue and strengthen safeguards to support the retention of Māori land in Māori ownership. Thirdly, the bill would unlock access to landlocked land. Many Māori land owners, particularly rural land owners, are unable to maximise the potential of their land due to where their whenua is located. Approximately 27 percent of Māori whenua is landlocked. When whenua is landlocked land owners must have either really good neighbours who will let them drive over their whenua or they can't actually get to it other than by walking. The law as it currently is requires Māori land owners to approach surrounding neighbours and negotiate and formalise reasonable legal access. The lack of reasonable access to whenua is a huge legal and practical obstacle to the development and utilisation of whenua.