26. Disposal of former Maori land---Where any affected land was,
 immediately before it became affected land,---
   (a) Maori freehold land or general land owned by Maori (as those terms
         are defined in section 2 of the Maori Affairs Act 1953); and
   (b) Beneficially owned by more than 4 persons; and
   (c) Not vested in any trustee or trustees---

 the Corporation or the transferee company, or railway operator, as the
 case may be, may, instead of making an offer under section 23 or section
 24 of this Act, as the case may be, apply to the Maori Land Court for
 the district in which the land is situated for an order under section
 436 of the Maori Affairs Act 1953 as if it were an authority for the
 purposes of that section.