Kura Huna: How to protect Māori Intellectual Property Rights for on screen Māori material?

Hineani Melbourne (Ngāti Pōrou, Maniapoto), Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiarangi

Since the inception of film to the present day in New Zealand Māori people, their language and customs have been recorded on film or other audio-visual mediums. In the eyes of the law the material recorded does not belong to the people who are sharing their knowledge, their customs and their language. This thesis investigates how Māori can reclaim the Intellectual Property Rights of their imagery and knowledge that has been recorded and how can present and future generations of these people protect and access this material.