Our research and teaching examines te Tiriti, Māori land law, tikanga Māori, criminal law, international law, Indigenous peoples’ rights, human rights, constitutional law, environmental law and jurisprudence.  We seek to uphold a commitment to te Tiriti and Indigenous peoples’ rights within the Faculty, wider university, nationally and internationally.

Te Tai Haruru was established in 1994 by Dr Nin Tomas (Tai Tokerau Confederation of iwi) and Andrea Tunks (Whakatohea, Te Whānau a Apanui).

Dr Tomas was the first Māori to earn a PhD in law with her groundbreaking research on Māori issues. Her work included examining key concepts of Tikānga Māori (Māori Custom Law) and its use as regulator of human relationships to natural resources in Tai Tokerau, past and present. She is an enormous loss to Te Tai Hararu and we miss her humour, rigour, intellect and commitment to Te Ao Māori.

Read more: Dr Nin Tomas

Other past members include Khylee Quince (Te Roroa/Ngapuhi and Ngati Porou), Kerensa Johnston (Ngaruahinerangi, Te Atiawa) Shane Heremaia (Ngati Tuwharetoa, Te Arawa) and Valmaine Toki (Nga Puhi, Ngati Wai and Ngati Rehua).

Our current team includes Geremy Hema, Claire Charters, Andrew Erueti, Jayden Houghton, Fleur Te Aho, Maureen Malcolm, Claire Mason, and Tracey Whare.

Members of Te Tai Haruru drive the Aotearoa New Zealand Centre for Indigenous Peoples and the Law.

Watch video footage of fascinating discussion on issues relevant to Māori and how these issues relate to the country’s legal system. Well known Māori leaders Sir Paul Reeves, Whatarangi Winiata, Margaret Mutu, Nin Tomas, Hone Harawira and Peter Adds are featured.