Waitangi Tribunal deputy chair Carrie Wainwright is stepping down.
Judge WaiNwright was appointed to the Maori Land Court in 2000.
Waatea News reports she is joining the District Court, with the intention of becoming a Youth Court judge next year.
Judge Wainwright says the most challenging and satisfying part of her work at the Tribunal has been getting claimant groups within iwi to set aside their differences.
Crown officials had also become more understanding of claimant's concerns as the settlement process progressed.