. ▁On ▁ 1 8 ▁November ▁ 2 0 0 4 , ▁the ▁New ▁Zealand ▁Parliament ▁passed ▁a ▁law ▁which ▁de ems ▁the ▁title ▁to ▁be ▁held ▁by ▁the ▁Crown . ▁This ▁law , ▁the ▁For esh ore ▁and ▁Se ab ed ▁Act ▁ 2 0 0 4 , ▁was ▁en act ed ▁on ▁ 2 4 ▁November ▁ 2 0 0 4 . ▁Some ▁sections ▁of ▁the ▁Act ▁came ▁into ▁force ▁on ▁ 1 7 ▁January ▁ 2 0 0 5 . ▁It ▁was ▁repe aled ▁and ▁replaced ▁by ▁the ▁Marine ▁and ▁Coast al ▁Area ▁( T ak ut ai ▁Mo ana ) ▁Act ▁ 2 0 1 1 . ▁ ▁Orig ins ▁ ▁Ng ati ▁A pa ▁v ▁Att orney - General ▁ ▁In ▁ 1 9 9 7 , ▁an ▁application ▁was ▁made ▁to ▁the ▁M ā ori ▁Land ▁Court ▁request ing , ▁amongst ▁other ▁matters , ▁that ▁" the ▁for esh ore ▁and ▁se ab ed ▁of ▁the ▁Mar l borough ▁S ounds , ▁extending ▁the ▁limits ▁of ▁New ▁Zealand ' s ▁territorial ▁sea " ▁be ▁defined ▁as ▁M ā ori ▁custom ary ▁land ▁under ▁the ▁Te ▁T ure ▁When ua ▁M ā ori ▁Act ▁ 1 9 9 3 . ▁The ▁M ā ori ▁Land ▁Court ▁determined ▁that ▁it ▁could ▁consider ▁the ▁issue , ▁but ▁was ▁over ru led ▁by ▁the ▁High ▁Court . ▁On ▁ 1 9 ▁June ▁ 2 0 0 3 , ▁New ▁Zealand ' s ▁Court ▁of ▁App e al ▁ruled ▁in ▁Ng ati