New Zealand's government plans to amend the Marine and Coastal Area Act to restore the original test for Customary Marine Title.

New Zealand's government plans to amend the Marine and Coastal Area Act, aiming to restore the original test for Customary Marine Title (CMT) after a Court of Appeal decision lowered the threshold for proving exclusive use and occupation of a coastal area. The proposed legislation will ensure consistent interpretation and application of the test and provide clarification for terms like 'exclusive use and occupation' and 'substantial interruption'. The amended test will be applied from the date the legislation is enacted, affecting existing CMT decisions and undetermined applications. The government plans to introduce the amendment in mid-September.