December 2020 Māori Law Review

Te Hunga Rōia Māori o Aotearoa – milestone partnerships – 2020

In 2020 Te Kāhui Ture o Aotearoa (the New Zealand Law Society) and Te Hunga Rōia Māori o Aotearoa (the Māori Law Society) formalised their relationship in two significant ways: first, by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU); then Te Kāhui Ture o Aotearoa established places for Te Hunga Rōia Māori o Aotearoa and the Pacific Lawyers Association as permanent members of the governing Council of its organisation. Te Hunga Rōia Māori o Aotearoa has also partnered with Te Aka Matua o Te Ture (the Law Commission).

Kōrerorero - Discussion

Te Kāhui Ture o Aotearoa and Te Hunga Rōia Māori o Aotearoa

On 27 February 2020 Te Kāhui Ture o Aotearoa and Te Hunga Rōia Māori o Aotearoa signed the MoU. The President of Te Kāhui Ture o Aotearoa, Tiana Epati, said:[1]

This MoU strengthens our existing relationship and formalises the spirit of mutual cooperation and trust between our two organisations. It acknowledges that we both have our roles to play and are independent of each other, but together can learn from and support each other.

Ms Epati acknowledged the “important mahi” that Te Hunga Rōia Māori o Aotearoa do to “represent and support iwi Māori in the legal profession – and have been doing so for more than 30 years”:[2]

Their membership includes a substantial number of legal practitioners, judges, parliamentarians, legal academics, policy analysts, researchers and Māori law students – and their work includes raising awareness of the fact that Māori and Māori legal issues can require a distinct and different approach.

Ms Epati stressed that the MoU “does not limit or affect the independence of either organisation. It acknowledges that we each have our roles to play but together we can learn from and support each other.” [3]

Then on 15 October 2020, Te Kāhui Ture o Aotearoa welcomed Te Hunga Rōia Māori o Aotearoa and the Pacific Lawyers Association as permanent members of their Council, with an amendment to the Law Society’s Constitution by Council members. This provides for full membership, and allows both organisations the right to vote on Council decisions and for the office of President of the Law Society.

The motion was formally put to Council by Ms Epati, and was led by the Vice-President for Auckland, Jacque Lethbridge.

Ms Epati said that “this is a historic moment for the legal profession”:[4]

For some time, we have talked about the goal of improving the representation and balance of both the Law Society and the legal profession. That can only be done through partnership which requires an equal seat at the table. By giving established organisations, who have long held the mandate for Māori and Pacific lawyers, the right to independently vote we have taken a significant step forward.

Te Hunga Rōia Māori Tumuaki Wahine Jamie-Lee Tuuta said of the change:[5]

Our Kaupapa / Vision for Te Hunga Rōia is expressed as being ‘Mā te Ture, Mō te Iwi’- ‘By the Law, For the People’

All of us have a mutual desire to effect change through the law within and for Māori. And we are ultimately responsible to our people.

By being a full member at the top table we will ensure Māori voices are heard while also maintaining our independence, which we know is of the utmost importance to our members.

2020 was also significant for the New Zealand Law Society, as it launched its Māori name: Te Kāhui Ture o Aotearoa.[6] The name was developed in consultation with a range of experts and given to the Law Society by Te Taura Whiri i te Māori, the Māori Language Commission. “Ture” means the law and “Te Kahui” means company of organisation.

Te Aka Matua o Te Ture and Te Hunga Rōia Māori o Aotearoa

On 21 July 2020 Te Hunga Rōia Māori and Te Aka Matua o Te Ture signed a Memorandum of Understanding which sets out a framework for closer engagement. This includes the Commission providing regular updates and receiving advice on consultation with Māori with respect to its current and planned work programme, and Te Hunga Rōia Māori o Aotearoa encouraging its members to make submissions on issues that are relevant to Māori.[7]

Notes

[1] Tiana Epati “NZLS and Te Hunga Rōia Māori MoU signing strengthens relationship” (16 April 2020) Law Society <https://www.lawsociety.org.nz/news/legal-news/nzls-and-te-hunga-ria-mori-mou-signing-strengthens-relationship/>.

[2] Tiana Epati “From the Law Society, Te Kāhui Ture” (2020) 937 LawTalk 6 at 6.

[3] At 6.

[4] “Historic Membership to Law Society Council” (16 October 2020) Law Society <https://www.lawsociety.org.nz/news/law-society-statements/historic-membership-to-law-society-council/>.

[5] “Historic Membership to Law Society Council”, above n 3.

[6] Epati “From the Law Society, Te Kāhui Ture”, above n 2, at 6.

[7] "MoU with Te Hunga Rōia Māori o Aotearoa" (23 July 2020) Te Aka Matua o Te Ture <https://www.lawcom.govt.nz/news/mou-te-hunga-roia-maori-o-aotearoa>.