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Trustee roles and duties
Responsible trustees
There are 3 different types of trustees – responsible trustees, custodian trustees, and advisory trustees. Each have their own responsibilities and duties within the trust.
Responsible trustees are legally responsible for how the trust is run, and how the land and assets are used for the benefit of the owners. They oversee the finances and can be held personally accountable if anything goes wrong.
They are responsible for:
- making decisions about the whenua on behalf of owners, in accordance with the trust order
- ensuring the trust's finances are properly managed
- driving the strategy to meet owners' aspirations
- reporting to owners and the Māori Land Court about how the trust is doing.
Responsible trustees can take advice from custodian and advisory trustees, but are the ones who are held legally responsible for any decisions that are made.