Law and Culture 2012: Pacific Law and NZ/Aotearoa Conference Programme
| Session Title | Speakers |
| DAY ONE | |
| Keynote Speakers |
His Excellency Judge Sir Kenneth Keith, International
Court of Justice Reflections on Some Pacific Constitutions
'Asipeli' Aminiasi Kefu, Solicitor General, Tonga Tongan Constitutions and Culture |
| Panel 1: Land |
Chair: Denis McNamara, Lowndes Associates
Brigitte Olul, University of the South Pacific The Takara Land Dispute Joel Fotu, Glaister Ennor, Barristers and Solicitors, Auckland Land, the State and Identity: A Tongan Perspective Tevita 'Aho, University of Auckland The Mozambique Rule: The Implications of this rule on Tongans resident in New Zealand |
| Panel 2: Rights and Freedom |
Chair: Treasa Dunworth, University of Auckland
Christopher Mahony, University of Auckland Enforcing Human Rights in the Pacific: Lessons from Africa Aman Ravindra-Singh, University of the South Pacific The Demonising of Hunam Rights in the Pacifc Region Esther Brimmer, Assistant Secretary of State, Bureau of International Organisation Affairs, USA Human Rights in the UN Context Rex Tauati Ahdar, University of Otago Religious Freedom in Samoa |
| Panel 3: Land and Heritage (2) |
Chair: David Williams, University of Auckland
Devon Latoa, University of Otago Absentee land holding and ownership in common:a Niuean perspective John Dawson, University of Otago The indigenisation of the Land and Titles Court of Samoa Hai-Yuean Tualima, Legal analyst, Samoa Law Reform Commission National Heritage |
| Panel 4: Pluralism, Custom, Culture (1) |
Chair: Danielle Kelly, University of Auckland
Lalotoa Mulitalo, University of Queensland As long as culture is alive, the law in the books is not always the law in practice Tamasailau SuaaliiSauni, Victoria University of Wellington Towards a Pacific jurisprudence: possibility or impossibility? Natalie Baird, School of Law, University of Canterbury Samoa Party v Attorney'General: Finding the balance between deference and independence |
| Panel 5: Education |
Chair: Khylee Quince, University of Auckland
Mylene Rakena, University of Waikato Success Toolkit for Maori Law Students at Te Piringa Faculty of Law Matiu Dickson, University of Waikato Teaching Nga Tikanga Maori in a Mainstream Law Course Mara Hosoda, University of Otago Legal Education of Pacific Students in New Zealand Law Schools |
| Panel 6: Identity and Status |
Chair: David Williams, University of Auckland
David Green, University of Auckland Mãori Legal Identity and the Rule of Law in Aotearoa New Zealand Rangimarie Mahuika, University of Waikato Grinding the Legal Definitions of Mãori in the Pacific Unaisi Narawa-Daurewa, University of the South Pacific An Identity Claimed?: The case of Tamavua-i-Wai Janice Gray and Sela Moa, University of New South Wales The Invisibilisation of Women - Tongan Land Law: A Case Study |
| Roundtable | Diversity in the Judiciary |
| Moot 1 | University of the South Pacific (Emalus) v University of Otago |
| DAY 2 | |
| Keynote Speaker |
Professor Don Paterson, University of South Pacific An overview of land systems in English speaking Island countries of the South Pacific |
| Panel 7: New Zealand’s Responsibilities in the Pacific |
Chair: Treasa Dunworth, University of Auckland
Shaista Shameem, Auckland New Zealand's Role in Fiji's Constitutional Development Processes: Historical and Contemporary Legal Imperatives Lena Wong, University of Auckland Olohenga Jessica Birdsall‐Day, University of Auckland Drafting NZ’s constitution: Does the Pacific have a place in NZ’s constitutional future |
| Panel 8: Pluralism, Custom, Culture (2) |
Chair: Natalie Baird, University of Canterbury
Derek Futaiasi, Law Reform Commission, Solomon Islands A brief overview of the offence of murder in the Solomon Islands Jessica Reid, University of Auckland Te Kooti Whakaora - A Mãori Mental Health Court Sofia Shah, University of the South Pacific Traditional Healers and the Law in Vanuatu Natalie Coates, University of Auckland Sex equality v gender equality: some thoughts on NZ and the case of the Maori Powhiri |
| Panel 9: Emerging Voices (1) |
Chair: Sofia Shah, University of the South Pacific
Yasmin Slatter, Victoria University of Wellington Post - Noumea Accord; The Future of New Caledonia Iotefa Mara, Victoria University of Wellington French Polynesia Tim Fesili, University of Auckland The Inverted Gift Giving Paradigm: customary law, bribery and elections in Samoa and the Pacific Taulesulu Mata,University of the South Pacific Samoan Culture and Elections |
| Panel 10: Emerging Voices (2) |
Chair: Natalie Coates, University of Auckland
Deepika Sharma,University of the South Pacific Intellectual Property Law in Fiji Trevor Naeiu, University of the South Pacific The failure of State Laws to Effectively Resolve Customary Land Disputes: A Case Study of Rakatne v Nisinamin Vani Tabudravu, University of the South Pacific Essential National Industry (Employment) Decree of Fiji Epifania Alesana, University of Auckland Prisoners’ rights in Samoa |
| Panel 11: Law, Policy and Politics |
Chair: Paul Rishworth, University of Auckland
Vergil Narokobi, Victoria University of Wellington The Implementation of Papua New Guinea's National Goals and Directive Principles and Basic Social Obligations Isaac Hikaka, LeeSalmonLong, Barristers and Solicitors, Auckland Falling Short of Standards?: Free and fair elections in the Cook Islands, Samoa and New Zealand Fine Koloamatangi, University of Canterbury Democracy by stealth: the role of law in democratising Tonga |
| Panel 12: Law in the Family |
Chair: Sofia Shah, University of the South Pacific
Helena Kaho, University of Auckland Court ordered 'stopping violence programmes' for Pacific offenders - a therapeutic jurisprudence approach Tiana Ritchie, University of Canterbury Tonga: A safe haven for parents abducting their children? Kima Tuialii, University of Auckland "Social context, historical negativity and structural barriers": The silence of Pacific Youth |
| Panel 13: Emerging Voices (3) |
Chair: Danielle Kelly, University of Auckland
Lisepa Paeniu, University of the South Pacific How can parliamentary democracy function more effectively in small Pacific Island countries such as Tuvalu and Nauru Rajnesh Singh, Victoria University of Wellington Democracy and the Rule of Law in Fiji under military control Matthew Dodd, University of Otago Hybrid land - holding forms in Fiji and New Zealand Elisabeth Perham, Victoria University of Wellington Citizenship Laws in the Realm of New Zealand |
| Panel 14: Emerging Voices (4) |
Chair: Natalie Coates, University of Auckland
David Solvalu, University of the South Pacific Can the rights of Sexual Minorities be Balanced in the Legal and Cultural Framework within the Nation of Fiji? Harry Toleafoa, University of Auckland Hardship payments and tithings Gemma Nelson, University of the South Pacific De Facto relationships in Samoa |