The Auckland Women Lawyers’ Association firmly supports the position set out in Te Hunga Rōia Māori o Aotearoa’s open letter to members dated 9 May 2024. The New Zealand Council of Legal Education’s inclusion of Tikanga Māori within the legal degree’s compulsory curriculum is welcomed by AWLA.
Tikanga Māori was the first law in Aotearoa New Zealand, and long predated the use of the common law system. This history has extensively been acknowledged by the courts, notably by the Supreme Court in Ellis v R [2022] 1 NZLR 239 and Trans-Tasman Resources Ltd v Taranaki-Whanganui Conservation Board [2021] 1 NZLR 801.
AWLA intends to write to The Law Association to enquire as to its intention to provide balance to the debate by publishing views offered by a knowledgeable tikanga Māori perspective. AWLA invites members to share their views or contribute to this letter by emailing president@awla.nz by 17 May 2024.
You can read Te Hunga Rōia Māori o Aotearoa’s open letter below.
May Breakfast Club – South Auckland