The decision of the Court of Appeal in Ngati Apa v. Attorney- General [2003] 3 NZLR 643 was that:

a.That Ngati Apa owned the foreshore and seabed within its rohe according to tikanga Mori.

b.The Mori Land Court had jurisdiction to hear the claim by Ngati Apa that it had customary title in the seabed and foreshore within its rohe according to tikanga Mori.

c.Ngati Apa could ask the Waitangi Tribunal to examine its claim to ownership of the foreshore and seabed within its rohe.