Te Matapunenga

A Compendium of References to the Concepts and Institutions of Maori Customary Law

Author: Benton Richard

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PRODUCT INFORMATION

Description

Seeking to shed light on the nature and status of Maori customary law--a fundamental component of the New Zealand legal system--Te Matapunenga assembles a collection of references to customary Maori legal concepts and institutions from an extensive range of sources. Unlike standard dictionaries, this reference is not confined to words and a technical account of their meaning and derivation. Rather, it sets out the terms and concepts of Maori customary law as they are recorded in traditional Maori accounts and historical records, along with modern interpretations of the terms and concepts, the contexts for their cited uses, etymological information, regional differences, and the manner in which customary concepts have been recognized or modified by the legislative and judicial branches of the New Zealand government since 1840.

It also provides a context for each recorded use, making Maori language and concepts accessible to scholars, officials, and the general public alike. This book provides an authoritative point of reference for those wishing to engage in the on-going public discourse on the future shape of the legal system in New Zealand.

About the Author

Richard Benton is a former adjunct professor at the Te Matahauariki Research Institute and is currently an honorary lecturer in the faculty of law at the University of Waikato, New Zealand. He has written and lectured extensively on language policy and on aspects of the history and vocabulary of Maori and other Austronesian languages.

Alex Frame is a barrister and an honorary professor in the faculty of law at the University of Waikato. He is the former director of the Te Matahauariki Research Institute, New Zealand. He is the author of Grey and Iwikau: A Journey into Custom and Salmond: Southern Jurist.

Paul Meredith is a former research fellow at the Te Matahauariki Research Institute, New Zealand. He is currently the executive officer in the office of the pro-vice chancellor Maori at Victoria University in Wellington.