Te Herenga Waka is expanding the teaching of tikanga Māori across its Bachelor of Laws (LLB) program in Aotearoa. This innovative approach continues despite a setback from the New Zealand Council of Legal Education, which proposed a compulsory first-year tikanga course that Parliament’s Regulation Review Committee disallowed.
Currently, law schools are only required to offer an introductory tikanga course at the 100 level. However, Te Herenga Waka has taken proactive steps by integrating tikanga content across all four compulsory 200-level papers: Public Law, Torts, Contract, and Criminal Law. Professor Māmari Stephens highlights this commitment, stating, “The goal is to develop a ‘tikanga instinct’ in graduates—the ability to recognise when tikanga is relevant and respond appropriately.”
Professor Stephens further notes that “tikanga doesn’t come out of nowhere. It’s not something that’s been foisted on people because of a particular stripe of government.” This integration reflects a growing recognition of the importance of Māori values and principles within Aotearoa’s legal system.
The faculty aims to extend this integration to 300-level courses by 2027, ensuring that future lawyers are well-versed in both traditional legal frameworks and Māori customs. This initiative comes at a time when courts increasingly recognise tikanga as part of the legal landscape.
In a related legal matter, Vaipou Vaoga and her daughter Faalaa Fialua were sentenced to 12 months of home detention for evading nearly $2 million in tax obligations. The Inland Revenue Department discovered that between 2018 and 2019, they had evaded over $1 million in GST and PAYE. Judge Ajit Singh pointed out that family loyalty played a significant role in their actions but noted that it is no excuse under the law for such substantial tax evasion.
Craig Stobo also recently resigned as chair of the Financial Markets Authority following an investigation into his behavior. These events underscore the complexities and challenges within New Zealand’s legal framework as it navigates issues of compliance and ethical standards.
The integration of tikanga Māori into legal education represents a significant shift towards inclusivity and cultural understanding within Aotearoa’s legal system. Observers look forward to seeing how these developments will shape future generations of lawyers.
