Hundreds of lawyers from around the motu attended the Korero with the experts: te Tiriti principles explained, event on Tuesday evening. 

Held at Victoria University’s Law School, and online, the event was co-hosted by Te Hunga Rōia Māori o Aotearoa and the New Zealand Law Society Te Kāhui Ture o Aotearoa. 

The purpose of the event was to mark publication of the book, and to examine and discuss the current jurisprudence relating to te Tiriti principles.  

The session was facilitated by Natalie Coates (Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Hine, Tῡwharetoa, Te Whānau a Apanui, Tῡhourangi). It began with a presentation by Dr Carwyn Jones and Dr Damen Ward, authors of the book Treaty Law: Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi in Law and Practice. 

The book analyses hundreds of judicial decisions relating to te Tiriti in the higher courts and describes the courts’ jurisprudence over time. 

How the courts have interpreted the Treaty in modern law 

Dr Jones and Dr Ward’s book looks at Crown and Māori relationships in legal terms by examining the last 40 years of case law involving the principles of the Treaty.  

Dr Ward told the event that their research showed that judges have emphasised the importance of the context for how the Treaty principles could be applied in today’s law. 

Dr Jones talked about the Waitangi Tribunal and treaty settlements and how these shape the way the Government engages with te Tiriti. 

Following their presentation, Dr Jones and Dr Ward were joined by panelists Horiana Irwin- Easthope (Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Kahungunu, Rakaipāka) and Nerys Udy (Ngāi Tahu) to provide additional insights and invited audience discussion on the topics covered. 

Horiana, is the founding Tumuaki at Whāia Legal, a kaupapa Māori law firm she established in 2018. Nerys Udy, is a junior barrister at Thorndon Chambers. 

Buy the book 

Thomson Reuters offers Law Society and Te Hunga Rōia Māori members a special discount of 30% plus free shipping on the award-winning Treaty Law: Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi in Law and Practice.* 

Members can access the offer via the Law Society app before midnight on Thursday 12 December 2024. 

*A discount of 38% will be applied to hard copy book orders to cover the 30% discount and the cost of shipping. 

Missed the kōrero but still interested?  

A recording of the session will be available for purchase from the NZLS CLE website next week. Check LawPoints for details.