Māori Engagement in NZ’s Extractive Industry: Innovative Legal Solutions - May 2015

In the third of our Horizons of Insight seminars for 2015, Andrew Erueti from the University of Auckland talks about his research project: Māori Engagement in NZ’s Extractive Industry: Innovative Legal Solutions

In recent years New Zealand has seen a sharp increase in Extractive Industry (oil, gas and mining) projects. The New Zealand government is strongly supportive of investment in the extractives sector and recently adopted a new code to manage industry in New Zealand’s Exclusive Economic Zone.

At the same time, there have been high profile demonstrations against mining by environmental and iwi/hāpu groups. It is clear, too, that some iwi have been working with industry, particularly in Taranaki. Others have sought a treaty interest in petroleum.

The Innovative Legal Solutions project will explore how recent developments in international law (particularly human rights law) provide insights into addressing the issues raised by extractive industry for iwi and hapu.

Andrew outlines the key developments focusing on the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as well as the UN ‘Ruggie’ Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. Reference is also made to innovations adopted by indigenous peoples and industry in other countries.

Andrew Erueti (Taranaki, Te Ātihaunui-a-Pāpārangi)

Andrew is currently a senior lecturer at Auckland University School of Law. Previously he has taught at the Law Schools of the University of Waikato and Victoria University of Wellington. Between 2008 and 2012 he was Amnesty International’s lead adviser on Indigenous rights based in London and Geneva and he was also lead counsel in the claim by Taranaki hāpu to Petroleum before the Waitangi Tribunal.