Māori Land Court: Dispute About Trust Beneficiaries Easthope v. Pirika - Te Ngae Farm Trust

Abstract

This case arose out of a disagreement among the trustees for the Te Ngae Farm Trust as to who should benefit from the trust.

The issue was whether the correct interpretation of the relevant clause of the trust order defined the beneficiaries of the trust narrowly as members of the hapū of Ngāti Rangiteaorere or more broadly to include all descendants of the tupuna (ancestor) Rangiteaorere.

The Court determined that the narrower interpretation was correct, consistent with the objects of the trust, and this was supported by the context in which the trust was established.

Keywords: interpretation approach to tribal trust beneficiaries

JEL Classification: K10, K39