LAWPUBL 441 : Nga Tikanga Māori

Law

2025 Semester One (1253) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

A study of Māori customary law. Topics that may be covered include: the content of Customary Law as it relates to Māori social and political organisation and land tenure; Customary Law’s interaction with the general (e.g., through statute or the common law); Customary Law and legal pluralism and culture theory; and the role of Customary Law in contemporary Crown-iwi relations.

Course Overview

Karanga mai, karanga mai,

Tēnei te reo pōhiri ki a koutou e ngākau nui ana ki ngā tikanga Māori. He akomanga tēnei hei wānanga, hei noho tahi ki te kōrero, ki te āta rangahau ki ngā tikanga Māori me ngā kēhi kua tino tohe i ēnei tikanga. Noreira  piki mai, kake mai. 

This paper will examine tikanga Māori and its place both historically and in today’s legal society. This course is structured into several modules.  That focuses on some of the following topics- 


  • rights based on custom and culture;
  • legal pluralism;
  • cultural theory; 
  • tikanga Māori in general
  • environmental law
  • family law
  • land law
  • Waitangi tribunal
  • Tino Rangatiranga in action 

This class will take a tikanga-based approach to learning and students will be encouraged to speak and actively participate in lessons. Students can choose to conduct their assessments in English or Te Reo Māori. Please only select this class if you are able to attend the majority of our classes. 

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: LAW 211

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: People and Place
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. Explain different theories of Law in relation to Customary law (Capability 1.1 and 1.2)
  2. Describe the key elements and principles of tikanga Maori (Capability 1.2)
  3. Critically evaluate how the New Zealand Legal system has currently and historically incorporated Tikanga Maori into its Legal system. (Capability 3.1 and 3.2)
  4. Help, challenge and influence other students in positive, constructive and collaborative ways. (Capability 4.1 and 4.2)
  5. Demonstrate effective oral and written communication skills (Capability 5.1 and 6.1)
  6. Demonstrate intellectual curiosity by making sense of developing concepts and topics, distilling themes and formulating probing questions (Capability 6.1, 7.1 and 8.1)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Class participation 10% Individual Coursework
Group discussion/ wānanga 10% Individual Coursework
Presentation/Discussion panel 30% Individual Coursework
Final Assignment 50% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5 6
Class participation
Group discussion/ wānanga
Presentation/Discussion panel
Final Assignment

Workload Expectations

This is a standard 15-point course. The guideline for the total workload for this course is 150 hours.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is necessary at classes to complete components of the course. The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

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.

Resources will be available on Canvas. 

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.

Student feedback on clarity around assessment will be addressed in this year's course. 

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework, tests and examinations 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. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against electronic source material using computerised detection mechanisms. Upon reasonable request, students may be required to provide an electronic version of their work for computerised review.

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 your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, 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 you may be asked to submit your 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. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.

Published on 08/11/2024 10:46 a.m.