Ngati Apa v Attorney-General was a landmark legal decision that sparked the
New Zealand foreshore and seabed controversy. The case arose from an application by eight northern South Island
iwi for orders declaring the foreshore and seabed of the
Marlborough Sounds Maori customary land. After lower court decisions and consequent appeals in the
Maori Land Court, the Maori Appellate Court and the High Court; the
Court of Appeal unanimously held that the Maori Land Court had jurisdiction to determine whether areas of foreshore and seabed were Maori
customary land or not. The court also held that, "The transfer of sovereignty did not affect customary property. They are interests preserved by the
common law until extinguished in accordance with the law". The effect of the decision was subsequently overturned by the
Foreshore and Seabed Act 2004.