Maria Hook, Our People, Faculty of Law

Convenor of Research

Maria Hook BCA LLB(Hons) PhD(Well)

Contact

Tel +64 3 479 4961
Office: Richardson Building, 8th Floor, 8N6
Email maria.hook@otago.ac.nz

Teaching

Maria currently teaches Private International Law, International Law, International Litigation and Dispute Settlement, and the Law of Torts.

Research interests

Maria's primary research interest is private international law (the conflict of laws), which is the law dealing with civil cross-border matters. She is the co-author of New Zealand's first comprehensive text on the subject, The Conflict of Laws in New Zealand (LexisNexis, 2020), and its 2024 Supplement. She is an editor of the online platform The Conflict of Laws in New Zealand.

The Conflict of Laws in New Zealand website

Although much of Maria’s work focuses on New Zealand private international law, she also enjoys taking an internationalist approach to her research, covering both common law and civil jurisdictions.

Occasionally, Maria dabbles in teaching-inspired research on the law of torts.

View Maria’s work on OUR Archive

Background

Prior to joining the Faculty in 2014, Maria was a judges' clerk at the High Court of New Zealand and a Research Fellow at Victoria University of Wellington, where she also completed her PhD.

Publications

Hook, M. (2024). The purpose of the gateways for service out of the jurisdiction. International & Comparative Law Quarterly. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1017/S0020589324000277 Journal - Research Article

Hook, M. (2024). Conflict of laws. New Zealand Law Review, (3), 505-540. Journal - Research Article

Hook, M., & Wass, J. (2024). The conflict of laws in New Zealand: Supplement. Wellington, New Zealand: LexisNexis, 113p. Authored Book - Research

Hook, M. (2024). Department of Corrections v Fujitsu. New Zealand Law Journal, (1), 22-23. Journal - Research Article

Hook, M. (2023). The Rylands compromise. Otago Law Review, 18(1), 65-87. Journal - Research Article

2024

Authored Book - Research

Hook, M., & Wass, J. (2024). The conflict of laws in New Zealand: Supplement. Wellington, New Zealand: LexisNexis, 113p.

Journal - Research Article

Hook, M. (2024). The purpose of the gateways for service out of the jurisdiction. International & Comparative Law Quarterly. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1017/S0020589324000277

Hook, M. (2024). Conflict of laws. New Zealand Law Review, (3), 505-540.

Hook, M. (2024). Department of Corrections v Fujitsu. New Zealand Law Journal, (1), 22-23.

2023

Journal - Research Article

Hook, M. (2023). The Rylands compromise. Otago Law Review, 18(1), 65-87.

Wass, J., & Hook, M. (2023). The Hague conventions on international civil procedure: The case for accession. New Zealand Law Review, (1), 99-133.

2022

Chapter in Book - Research

Hook, M. (2022). Renvoi and preliminary questions. In P. Beaumont & J. Holliday (Eds.), A guide to global private international law. (pp. 61-73). Bloomsbury. doi: 10.5040/9781509932085

Journal - Research Article

Hook, M. (2022). Does New Zealand consumer legislation apply to a claim against a foreign manufacturer? New Zealand Law Journal, (6), 201-203, 206.

2021

Chapter in Book - Research

Hook, M. (2021). New Zealand: New Zealand perspectives on the Hague Principles. In D. Girsberger, T. K. Graziano & J. L. Neels (Eds.), Choice of law in international commercial contracts. (pp. 734-746). Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/law/9780198840107.001.0001

Journal - Research Article

Hook, M. (2021). Nuisance and Rylands in need of direction. New Zealand Law Journal, (7), 229-231, 246.

Hook, M. (2021). Strict liability in nuisance: A fork in the road. New Zealand Law Journal, (4), 136-138.

Hook, M., Warnock, C., Allan, B., & Pirini, M. (2021). Tort to the environment: A stretch too far or a simple step forward? Smith v Fonterra Co-operative Group Ltd and Others [2020] NZHC 419. Journal of Environmental Law, 33, 195-210. doi: 10.1093/jel/eqaa032

Other Research Output

Hook, M. (2021, August). Enforcement of a promise to pay a mahr: Characterisation and public policy in the context of Almarzooqi v Salih. The Conflict of Laws in New Zealand: News and Comment. Retrieved from https://blogs.otago.ac.nz/conflicts/enforcement-of-a-promise-to-pay-a-mahr-characterisation-and-public-policy-in-the-context-of-almarzooqi-v-salih/

Hook, M. (2021, May). Claims for unjustified dismissal by "locally employed civilians" in the New Zealand court. The Conflict of Laws in New Zealand: News and Comment. Retrieved from https://blogs.otago.ac.nz/conflicts/claims-for-unjustified-dismissal-by-locally-employed-civilians-in-the-new-zealand-court

Hook, M. & Wass, J. (2021, February). Webb v Webb (PC): The role of a foreign tax debt in the allocation of matrimonial property. Conflict of Laws.net: Views and News in Private International Law. Retrieved from https://conflictoflaws.net/2021/webb-v-webb-pc-the-role-of-a-foreign-tax-debt-in-the-allocation-of-matrimonial-property/

2020

Authored Book - Research

Hook, M., & Wass, J. (2020). The conflict of laws in New Zealand. Wellington, New Zealand: LexisNexis, 751p.

Journal - Research Article

Hook, M. (2020). Conflict of laws. New Zealand Law Review, (4), 685-701.

Other Research Output

Hook, M. (2020, December). The complex meaning of 'the good arguable case' standard. The Conflict of Laws in New Zealand: News and Comments. Retrieved from https://blogs.otago.ac.nz/conflicts/?p=164

Hook, M. (2020, September). The law governing collisions on the high seas. The Conflict of Laws in New Zealand: News and Comments. Retrieved from https://blogs.otago.ac.nz/conflicts/?p=154

Hook, M. (2020, May). Enforcement of a promise to pay a deferred dower/dowry. The Conflict of Laws in New Zealand: News and Comments. Retrieved from https://blogs.otago.ac.nz/conflicts/?p=139

Hook, M. (2020, March). High Court decision on anti-suit injunctions. The Conflict of Laws in New Zealand: News and Comments. Retrieved from https://blogs.otago.ac.nz/conflicts/?p=134

Hook, M. (2020, February). Common law recognition of foreign declarations of parentage. Conflict of Laws.net: Views and News in Private International Law. Retrieved from https://conflictoflaws.net/2020/common-law-recognition-of-foreign-declarations-of-parentage

2019

Chapter in Book - Research

Hook, M. (2019). The conflict of laws as a shared language for the cross-border application of statutes. In M. Douglas, V. Bath, M. Keyes & A. Dickinson (Eds.), Commercial issues in private international law: A common law perspective. (pp. 175-200). Oxford, UK: Hart Publishers.

Journal - Research Article

Hook, M. (2019). A first principles approach to couples' property in the conflict of laws. Journal of Private International Law, 15(2), 257-287. doi: 10.1080/17441048.2019.1647990

Other Research Output

Hook, M. (2019, December). Whakaari/White Island, civil liability and the conflict of laws. The Conflict of Laws in New Zealand: News and Comments. Retrieved from https://blogs.otago.ac.nz/conflicts/?p=121

Hook, M. (2019, August). The Law Commission's Review of the Property (Relationships) Act 1976. The Conflict of Laws in New Zealand: News and Comments. Retrieved from https://blogs.otago.ac.nz/conflicts/?p=111

2018

Journal - Research Article

Hook, M. (2018). Applying Israel’s Anti-Boycott Law to New Zealand activists. New Zealand Law Journal, (10), 318-320, 324.

2017

Chapter in Book - Research

Hook, M. (2017/2018). New Zealand's choice of law rules relating to tort. In A. Bonomi & G. P. Romano (Eds.), Yearbook of Private International Law Vol. XIX. (pp. 313-332). Lausanne, Switzerland: Swiss institute of Comparative Law. doi: 10.9785/9783504386078-016

Hook, M. (2017). Private international law and human rights. In M. Bedggood, K. Gledhill & I. McIntosh (Eds.), International human rights law in Aotearoa New Zealand. (pp. 1107-1138). Wellington, New Zealand: Thomson Reuters.

Journal - Research Article

Wass, J., & Hook, M. (2017). Reform of choice of law rules for tort. New Zealand Law Journal, 1, 24-26.

Hook, M. (2017). The “statutist trap” and subject-matter jurisdiction. Journal of Private International Law, 13(2), 435-462. doi: 10.1080/17441048.2017.1334348

Hook, M., & Wass, J. (2017). The Employment Relations Act and its effect on contracts governed by foreign law. New Zealand Law Journal, 3, 80-87.

Other Research Output

Hook, M. (2017, December). The Supreme Court's decision in Brown v New Zealand Basing Ltd: Comments on the majority judgement. The Conflict of Laws in New Zealand: News and Comments. Retrieved from https://blogs.otago.ac.nz/conflicts/?p=41

2016

Authored Book - Research

Hook, M. (2016). The choice of law contract. Oxford, UK: Hart, 255p.

Journal - Research Article

Hook, M. (2016). Reasonable forseeability of harm as an element of nuisance. Victoria University of Wellington Law Review, 47, 267-282.

2015

Journal - Research Article

Hook, M. (2015). The concept of modal choice of law rules. Journal of Private International Law, 11(2), 185-211. doi: 10.1080/17441048.2015.1070570

2014

Journal - Research Article

Hook, M. (2014). The choice of law agreement as a reason for exercising jurisdiction. International & Comparative Law Quarterly, 63(4), 963-975. doi: 10.1017/S0020589314000451

Awarded Doctoral Degree

Hook, M. (2014). The choice of law contract (PhD). Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand.

2012

Journal - Research Article

Hook, M. (2012). Party autonomy: Yes or no? The 'commodification' of the law applicable to matrimonial property relationships. Nederlands Internationaal Privaatrecht, 4, 587-596.

2011

Journal - Research Article

Hook, M. (2011). Arbitration agreements and anational law: A question of intent? Journal of International Arbitration, 28(3), 175-186.

2008

Journal - Research Article

Hook, M. (2008). New Zealand's Accident Compensation Scheme and man-made disease. Victoria University of Wellington Law Review, 39, 289-318.