A new era is emerging in Aotearoa’s legal landscape—one where tikanga Māori is increasingly being recognised, tested, and applied within the state legal system. In 2021, Te Kōti Whenua Māori (the Māori Land Court) launched a tikanga-based dispute resolution process, offering an innovative pathway grounded in Māori legal principles.
This research investigates how tikanga is being used within this new legal framework and what it means for Māori landowners. It explores how Māori legal concepts respond to both climate change litigation and contemporary tort law, and how they may transform the development of a truly bijural legal system in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Lead Researchers
Metiria Stanton Turei, Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa, Āti Haunui a Pāpārangi, Te Atiawa, Rangitāne, Faculty of Law, University of Otago
Adrienne Paul, Ngāti Awa, Ngāi Tūhoe, University of Canterbury