Echoes of justice

During and after the New Zealand wars, the Colonial Courts acted as extensions of the battlefield. As violence continued, the law was used to suppress, and punish Māori, while legitimising the seizure of land and taonga. Below is my research into New Zealand's legal system in its infancy.

1840-1852

The period between 1840 and 1852 involved the formation of colonial jurisprudence in Aotearoa. Following the signing of Te tiriti o Waitangi, the British Crown sough to extend its legal powers over a complex and sovereign Maori world. The newly established colonial courts became the principal means of asserting this power. This marked an application of imperial law into local practice, adjudicating the earliest conflicts between Māori and the colonial state.

Consider the contemporary relevance of tikanga in light of these historical court cases. Reflect on how traditional Māori legal concepts and practices can inform and enrich modern legal discourse and decision-making. We encourage you to explore further research into the evolving relationship between tikanga and the New Zealand legal system.