November 06, 2014
Tradition could inform laws
A Victoria University researcher is looking forward to delving into Maori culture to identify traditional legal principles.
Dr Carwyn Jones has a $300,000 Marsden Fast-start grant for his project.
He wants to build on the korero of scholars like Ani Mikarere and Moana Jackson who argue that tikanga Maori is the first law of Aotearoa.
That means looking for material which can illuminate the legal aspects of tikanga Maori.
"One of the key sources for me is thinking about looking at our stories, at our korero purakau, and thinking where in those stories do we see legal principles operating, where do we see rights and obligations being allocated, where do we see who has the authority to make decsions, how decisions are enforced, where are there mechanisms for remedy if there has been a breach those kinds of aspects," Dr Jones says.
Even warfare was defined by clearly-defined principles and laws.
FOR THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH DR CARWYN JONES CLICK ON THE LINK
http://www.waateanews.com/play_podcast?podlink=MjM3NjA=
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