National wants to boost the Māori economy and improve outcomes for Māori by supporting Māori in their self-development and self-determination. This bill reforms and restates Te Ture Whenua Maori Act into a modern, fit-for-purpose law which strengthens the protections of whenua Māori and unleashes the productive potential can it can provide for iwi, hapū, and whānau. Whereas the current 1993 Act has the Māori Land Court as its central focus, the reforms proposed in this bill will place the legislative focus on the land itself and the rights and authority of the owners. This bill reflects a policy shift to more clearly support land utilisation as determined by the owners themselves. This is done by providing a new framework within which owners of Māori land will themselves be able to determine, design, establish, and operate effective governance arrangements for their land. The new framework establishes a clear and explicit governance environment, providing certainty for those working within it, flexible options for governance structures, the ability to reflect tikanga Māori in governance arrangements, baseline thresholds for certain decisions, and appropriate measures for Government accountability. 