Māori Land Block Data Navigator: A Deployed Geospatial Research Platform for Shareholder Access to Fragmented Crown Archives

Māori freehold land ownership data in Aotearoa New Zealand is fragmented across no fewer than eight distinct government repositories, each operating under separatelegislation, administered by separate agencies, and accessible through separate interfaces. No integrated public system exists to guide a shareholder through this landscape. This working paper documents the design, deployment, and public interface of the Māori Land Block Data Navigator a live geospatial research platform built to address this gap. The platform (https://maorilandmap.refindmaker.com) provides shareholders, researchers, and the public with a structured, sequential methodology for locating Māori land block data across all relevant Crown archives and agencies. A companion navigator page (https://maorilandmap.refindmaker.com/links/) presents this methodology as a four-tabbed interactive interface covering: a step-by-step research pathway, a directory of all eight data repositories, a legislative timeline spanning from pre-1865 to the present, and a 13-step interactive research checklist. The platform was developed independently by a single Māori land shareholder and geospatial developer, and deployed publicly in May 2026. This paper documents the conceptual framework, legislative basis, cross-reference methodology, system architectureoverview, and all public-facing resource links. Proprietary source code, valuation coefficients, and economic modelling formulae are withheld and covered under separateembargoed Zenodo records and pending patent protection. Fig 01 — Main platform landing view. Your Whenua, Your Share — interactive satellite map of Aotearoa New Zealand at national scale showing the LINZ aerial basemap. Navigation header shows Rapu Whenua, Explore Whenua, Latest News, About, Koha Donate, and Get Started buttons. Search sidebar visible right. maorilandmap.refindmaker.com Fig 02 — Explore Whenua modal — live unbound satellite view. Block example Taiharuru 2B2B & 2B6, Taitokerau district, 1.6588 ha, 37.5 shares, 5 owners displayed. Gold square share visualisation rendered on actual LINZ aerial satellite imagery of the whenua. Proprietary district valuation: NZ$52,252.31 (Taitokerau coefficient $3.15/m²). NZ national average: NZ$33,176.07. Fig 03 — Piwa Whenua Guide widget. Proprietary AI-assisted whenua guide Ko Piwa tōku ingoa — interactive assistant for blocks, shares, voting power, reports, and trust portfolios. Prompt options: How do shares work, What tools are here, Find my block, Who are you. Fig 04 — Rapu Whenua navigator page. Navigating Māori Land Block Data — full interface showing Step-by-Step Guide tab active, proven research pathway cards, and Key Resources sidebar with all 8 data repositories. maorilandmap.refindmaker.com/links/ Fig 05 — About modal — Ko Wai Ahau / Who I Am. Developer biography: Nicolas Brown, Peakman whānau, Whakaki, Wairoa region. Te Kaupapa — The Purpose statement. Device compatibility notice. Contact details and Patent Pending — IPONZ & Worldwide status. Platform URL: https://maorilandmap.refindmaker.com Navigator URL: https://maorilandmap.refindmaker.com/links/ Published: Yes Status: Live Patent Status: May 2026 Live Publicly Deployed Pending · IPONZ & Worldwide