title: Redefining taonga: The Treaty Principles Bill and its potential impact on the status of te reo Māori

authors: Carter, Wayne Ngahuka

abstract: This thesis explores the potential impact of Aotearoa New Zealand’s proposed Treaty Principles Bill on the recognition and protection of te reo Māori (Māori language) as a taonga under the Treaty of Waitangi. This research examines the redefinition of fundamental Treaty principles as outlined in the bill, specifically addressing important questions concerning how the transition from partnership, protection and participation towards a focus in equal rights might influence both the legal standing and the cultural status of te reo Māori. With a quantitative methodology approach, this study draws from a range of sources, including legislative policies, political documents, historical records, and academic analysis, to evaluate the impacts and risks this bill could impose. A comparative analysis study with international examples of indigenous language protection provides broader insights into the potential effects on Māori language revitalisation efforts and te reo Māori and its status under the 2016 Māori Language Act. Early findings indicate that the Treaty Principles Bill has ignited considerable debate throughout Aotearoa New Zealand, emphasising tensions between traditional interpretations of the Treaty of Waitangi and framework proposed by the Act Party. Māori rights advocates and public debates express worries that the bill could diminish current protection and reduce advancements achieved for te reo Māori as a taonga. Critics argue that redefining these principles might fracture Māori-Crown relationships, possibly weakening differences and impacting New Zealand’s governance and national identity. This debate emphasises the challenging task of restoring New Zealand’s colonial past with its modern goals for fairness and equality. As Parliament reviews this legislation, it is confronted with a crucial decision that will influence the future direction of Aotearoa New Zealand.

text: Redefining taonga: The Treaty Principles Bill and its potential impact on the status of te reo Māori This thesis explores the potential impact of Aotearoa New Zealand’s proposed Treaty Principles Bill on the recognition and protection of te reo Māori (Māori language) as a taonga under the Treaty of Waitangi. This research examines the redefinition of fundamental Treaty principles as outlined in the bill, specifically addressing important questions concerning how the transition from partnership, protection and participation towards a focus in equal rights might influence both the legal standing and the cultural status of te reo Māori. With a quantitative methodology approach, this study draws from a range of sources, including legislative policies, political documents, historical records, and academic analysis, to evaluate the impacts and risks this bill could impose. A comparative analysis study with international examples of indigenous language protection provides broader insights into the potential effects on Māori language revitalisation efforts and te reo Māori and its status under the 2016 Māori Language Act. Early findings indicate that the Treaty Principles Bill has ignited considerable debate throughout Aotearoa New Zealand, emphasising tensions between traditional interpretations of the Treaty of Waitangi and framework proposed by the Act Party. Māori rights advocates and public debates express worries that the bill could diminish current protection and reduce advancements achieved for te reo Māori as a taonga. Critics argue that redefining these principles might fracture Māori-Crown relationships, possibly weakening differences and impacting New Zealand’s governance and national identity. This debate emphasises the challenging task of restoring New Zealand’s colonial past with its modern goals for fairness and equality. As Parliament reviews this legislation, it is confronted with a crucial decision that will influence the future direction of Aotearoa New Zealand.

year: 2025

title: Adopting a Maori property rights approach to fisheries

authors: Toki, Valmaine

abstract: For Maori, tikanga Maori or custom law not only underpinned the recognition of property rights to their fishery but also their environmental ethics and the sustainable management of that fishery. In comparison, the property right of non-indigenous peoples was sourced from a rights system determined by the State. The nature of these property rights, for Maori, has been acknowledged by legislation. The challenge for Maori is to effectively maintain, develop and manage this allocated resource in a way that will not only sustain the resource but also ensure its longevity both socially and economically for future generations. Among the issues Maori will face are how to balance effective governance and efficient management, together with the requirement to address global issues of over-fishing and property rights, all the while preserving and respecting tradition. Irrespective of these challenges, it is the tikanga, or philosophy, intrinsic to the traditional Maori worldview which will guide Maori through these challenges, and provide a way forward for global issues such as climate change.

text: Adopting a Maori property rights approach to fisheries For Maori, tikanga Maori or custom law not only underpinned the recognition of property rights to their fishery but also their environmental ethics and the sustainable management of that fishery. In comparison, the property right of non-indigenous peoples was sourced from a rights system determined by the State. The nature of these property rights, for Maori, has been acknowledged by legislation. The challenge for Maori is to effectively maintain, develop and manage this allocated resource in a way that will not only sustain the resource but also ensure its longevity both socially and economically for future generations. Among the issues Maori will face are how to balance effective governance and efficient management, together with the requirement to address global issues of over-fishing and property rights, all the while preserving and respecting tradition. Irrespective of these challenges, it is the tikanga, or philosophy, intrinsic to the traditional Maori worldview which will guide Maori through these challenges, and provide a way forward for global issues such as climate change.

year: 2010

title: Violence in New Zealand women's prisons

authors: Lancaster, Fraya Eileen

subjects: violence

abstract: Female violence in institutional settings is a growing issue as female incarceration numbers have been persistently increasing over the past three decades in New Zealand. Women’s prison violence and misconduct behaviours currently possess minimal exploration worldwide due to violent women being small in numbers until recent years, and female prisoners have posed significantly fewer problems towards correctional facilities compared to male prisoners. With evidence of New Zealand’s women prison muster inflating and minimal research on women’s aggressive behaviour, there is an increased importance for the current study. This explorative study evaluated the prevalence of violent behaviour and misconduct in New Zealand’s three women’s prisons using the Department of Correction’s administrative data to examine the relationships between predictor variables and violent misconduct. Participants included 2,038 prisoners who had been cited for 11,368 rule violations between the years 2012 and 2017, with incidents including physical violence, verbal violence, property violence, and non-violent incidents. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize demographic characteristics and distribution of the sample and data. Analysis of covariance was employed to investigate the effects of violation frequencies and gang membership on the prisoners’ risk of reconviction multiplied by risk of imprisonment (RoC*RoI) scores while controlling for the effects of age as a covariate. Non-parametric tests were used where appropriate to identify the differences between groups. The results illustrated that there were significant correlations between violation frequencies and RoC*RoI scores and that prisoners with a higher risk of reoffending had higher counts of violations. There was a significant effect of gang membership and RoC*RoI scores on violation frequencies, as gang-affiliated prisoners were more likely to have high RoC*RoI scores as well as higher rates of violations. A significant correlation between age groups and violation frequencies was identified, demonstrating that younger prisoners were more prone to engaging in violence and misconduct compared to older prisoners. Violation frequencies differed between prisons, as one prison reported lower numbers of violations in comparison to the remaining two prisons. This study established three key predictors of misconduct, which is a valuable contribution to the correctional literature.

text: Violence in New Zealand women's prisons Female violence in institutional settings is a growing issue as female incarceration numbers have been persistently increasing over the past three decades in New Zealand. Women’s prison violence and misconduct behaviours currently possess minimal exploration worldwide due to violent women being small in numbers until recent years, and female prisoners have posed significantly fewer problems towards correctional facilities compared to male prisoners. With evidence of New Zealand’s women prison muster inflating and minimal research on women’s aggressive behaviour, there is an increased importance for the current study. This explorative study evaluated the prevalence of violent behaviour and misconduct in New Zealand’s three women’s prisons using the Department of Correction’s administrative data to examine the relationships between predictor variables and violent misconduct. Participants included 2,038 prisoners who had been cited for 11,368 rule violations between the years 2012 and 2017, with incidents including physical violence, verbal violence, property violence, and non-violent incidents. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize demographic characteristics and distribution of the sample and data. Analysis of covariance was employed to investigate the effects of violation frequencies and gang membership on the prisoners’ risk of reconviction multiplied by risk of imprisonment (RoC*RoI) scores while controlling for the effects of age as a covariate. Non-parametric tests were used where appropriate to identify the differences between groups. The results illustrated that there were significant correlations between violation frequencies and RoC*RoI scores and that prisoners with a higher risk of reoffending had higher counts of violations. There was a significant effect of gang membership and RoC*RoI scores on violation frequencies, as gang-affiliated prisoners were more likely to have high RoC*RoI scores as well as higher rates of violations. A significant correlation between age groups and violation frequencies was identified, demonstrating that younger prisoners were more prone to engaging in violence and misconduct compared to older prisoners. Violation frequencies differed between prisons, as one prison reported lower numbers of violations in comparison to the remaining two prisons. This study established three key predictors of misconduct, which is a valuable contribution to the correctional literature.

year: 2020