Overarching research question
How can Māori law be integrated into the LLB as a foundational part of the degree?
Foundations
Māori law
Māori law is the first law of Aotearoa. This status is upheld by foundational texts including He Whakaputanga o te Rangatiratangi o Nu Tireni (1835) and Te Tiriti o Waitangi (1840).
The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (2007) provides another driver for change. Lessons from Canada and Australia provide guidance for how Aotearoa New Zealand can indigenise its legal education.
The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
A bicultural legal education
A bicultural legal education implements structures, develops processes and provides resources grounded in Te Tiriti o Waitangi. This includes the employment of Māori, and sharing of resources, leadership and decision-making with iwi, hapū and Māori academic staff.
A bilingual legal education
A bilingual legal education uses te reo Māori in general teaching and specifically in relation to Māori law concepts and principles. This enables all students to have a working knowledge of Māori law in te reo Māori when they graduate.
A bijural legal education
A bijural legal education prioritises bicultural and bilingual teaching and learning for all law graduates. This ensures Māori law can be taught as part of the multi-year core LLB curriculum in a way that adheres to Māori transmission methods of knowledge.
Ngā mihi | Acknowledgements
Tēnei mātou ka tangi mōteatea nei ki a rātou mā kua wehe atu ki tua o te ārai. Haere, hoki atu koutou ki te poho o te Atua, ki te huihuinga o te kahurangi, okioki ai. Kāti te taha ki ngā mate. E ngā mahuetanga iho, kia ora mai tātou katoa.
Nei rā te mihi ki ngā iwi ki ngā hapū maha, nā koutou i tū kaha, i tū māia ahakoa ngā whiunga mai o te wā. Nā koutou e ū tonu ana te iwi Māori ki āna tikanga, ki tōna rangatiratanga motuhake.
Nei rā te mihi ki a koutou e ngā pou āwhina me te pae o te mātauranga. Mei koe ake koutou e riro mai ngā akoranga me ngā tohutohu i taea ai e mātou te pūrongo nei me āna whakataunga.
Nei rā te mihi ki ngā mātanga o te ture, mai i ngā wānanga, mai i te hapori rōia whānui. Nā koutou mātou i kaha tautoko kia oti pai tēnei mahi. Tēnā hoki koutou e te Borrin Foundation, nā ngā huruhuru, te manu ka rere.
Waiho mā ēnei kupu a Hēnare te Ōwai o Ngāti Porou, hei whakarāpopoto te wai o tēnei pūrongo. Koinei katoa hei takoha hoki mā mātou ki ngā reanga whai mai. Tēnā koutou katoa.
Mā wai rā e taurima te marae i waho nei? Mā te tika mā te pono me te aroha e...
It is right that we first lament those who have passed beyond the veil. May they rest among the illustrious, in the embrace of the most high. May there be life and vitality for we who have been left behind.
We recognise with pride the many peoples of the Māori world who stood firm and brave despite the suffering and challenges of the times. You have never yielded; Māori people remain firmly connected to their tikanga, their own distinct ways of being in this world.
We acknowledge warmly those who supported us, those who shared your deep knowledge with us. We were fortunate indeed, as your teaching and direction are reflected in this report and its recommendations.
Our sincere acknowledgments extend also to the Deans of this country's law schools, and to those people who supported our work from the broader legal community. Your support of us has enabled this stage to be completed well.
Of course, our warm greetings and thanks go also to the Borrin Foundation, by your support this work became possible. For this we are sincerely grateful.
We leave the last words to Hēnare te Ōwai of Ngāti Porou, to summarise the essence of this report. This report and the work yet to be done is our promise, and our gift to the generations to come. Tēnā koutou katoa.
Mā wai rā e taurima te marae i waho nei? Mā te tika mā te pono me te aroha e...
Who then, will protect the marae here? It will be truth, justice, and love.