Custodian trustees

Responsible trustees can decide to appoint a custodian trustee help them manage the land.

A custodian trustee carries out the directions of the responsible trustee and holds the assets of the trust (for example land and funds).  Although the land is vested in the custodian trustee (meaning the custodian trustee is technically the legal owner), the custodian trustee only acts on written instructions from the responsible trustee(s).

For example, if the Māori Trustee is custodian trustee and the owners want to enter a lease on the land, the Māori Trustee will sign the lease as custodian trustee, but will only do so on the written instruction of the responsible trustee(s).

This type of trusteeship is useful for situations where owners want to maintain overall control, but delegate the work of running a trust to someone else.

The appointment of custodian trustees must be made through the Māori Land Court.