LAWGENRL 428 : South Pacific Legal Studies

Law

2024 Semester One (1243) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Legal study of Pacific Island states located in the regions of Micronesia, Melanesia and Polynesia. Distinctive features of law arising in Pacific states, for example sources of law; relationships between custom and imported concepts of law; legal pluralism; corruption and anti-corruption measures; democracy and governance; land law; constitutional crises and constitutional developments; environmental and trade issues; regional issues; human rights issues.

Course Overview

South Pacific Legal Studies offers a critical examination of the legal issues that South Pacific island nations face. The South Pacific region is comprised of many island nations with distinct and divergent societies, cultures, and legal systems. The course is designed to offer a broad introduction to these legal systems and related contemporary legal issues. South Pacific Legal Studies will cover traditional legal systems, customary law, and legal pluralism. The course will also explore modern constitutional law issues, democracy, governance, corruption, land tenure, and contemporary legal challenges encompassing the human rights of minority groups, environmental law, trade law, regionalism, and climate change in the region. The course critically examines the internal social, economic, and cultural context of Pacific nations through a legal lens and will feature a comparative approach in examining legal issues common to many Pacific island jurisdictions and within the backdrop of international law standards and norms. 

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: 30 points at Stage II in International Relations and Business or LAW 211 Restriction: LAW 486

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: People and Place
Capability 2: Sustainability
Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4: Critical Thinking
Capability 5: Solution Seeking
Capability 6: Communication
Capability 7: Collaboration
Capability 8: Ethics and Professionalism
Graduate Profile: Bachelor of Laws

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Demonstrate a critical appreciation of the social, cultural, environmental and economic effects of law and legal processes from national and international perspectives. (Capability 1.2)
  2. Demonstrate a critical and informed appreciation of the role of law in promoting sustainable futures for Pacific Island Countries. (Capability 2.1)
  3. Describe and critique the history, theory, nature and substance of law in the context of nation-states in the South Pacific. (Capability 3.1 and 3.2)
  4. Analyse and evaluate legal rules and principles from nations of the South Pacific. (Capability 4.1)
  5. Identify and analyse complex issues that arise relating to the law and legal systems in the South Pacific. (Capability 4.1 and 4.2)
  6. Demonstrate a critical appreciation of the social, cultural, environmental and economic effects of the law and legal processes from national and international perspectives . (Capability 5.1)
  7. Articulate and discuss coherently, persuasively and respectfully Pacific legal issues. (Capability 6.1)
  8. Critically engage in Talanoa. Maintain relationships, collaborate, and advocate effectively and ethically. (Capability 7.1)
  9. Demonstrate an awareness of ethical and responsible behaviour from a Pacific world view. (Capability 8.1)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Presentation 30% Individual Coursework
Essay 70% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Presentation
Essay

Workload Expectations

This is a standard 15-point course. There will be around 24 hours of lectures in this course.  The guideline for the total workload for this course is 150 hours.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

This course will primarily follow a lecture/talanoa-type format where students are encouraged to engage in discussion. Student presentations offer an invaluable opportunity for students to present on an issue in the Pacific that is of interest to them.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

The recommended texts for the course are:

1. Jennifer Corrin and Vergil Narokobi; Introduction to South Pacific Law (5th ed, 2022).  
2. Jennifer Corrin and Tony Angelo; Legal Systems of the Pacific (2021)

Other readings will be listed in Canvas for each of the lectures/topics covered during the course.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

A concentrated effort will be made to increase talanoa and class engagement during lectures in 2024.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course director, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a Student Academic and Support Adviser as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course students may be asked to submit coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.

Published on 01/11/2023 11:15 a.m.