E ngā mana, e ngā reo, e nga karangatanga maha, tēnei te reo whakamihi atu ki a koutou! Nau piki mai, nau kake mai ki te kohikohinga kōrero nei, e kī ai ko Te Ranga Huatau!

The theme for this edition of Te Ranga Huatau is “he toka tū moana” - a rock standing firm in the sea. This whakataukī speaks to the strength of those who remain grounded in their culture, beliefs, and convictions, despite the constant pressure of the tides around them. Like a rock that endures the relentless pull of the ocean, they remain strong against all elements. Within these pages, our writers explore this idea, offering whakaaro on how we might embody the essence of this whakataukī in our lives and mahi.

This theme emerged during wānanga at our university, where we reflected on the idea that while governments come and go, our whānau, hapū, iwi and Māoritanga are forever. There was a sense that we were expected to write reactively — to respond to the shifting tides of today’s political climate. Instead, we have chosen to write proactively. That is our interpretation of a toka tū, it is how we stand firm in our tikanga, beliefs and community that keeps us stable and headstrong amongst the waves.

In its third iteration, Te Ranga Huatau continues to take up the tono laid by its predecessors: to provide a platform for the ideas, opinions and experiences of tauira ture Māori. Reaching a third edition is no small feat; it speaks to the enduring value and relevance of this kaupapa. Our whāinga remains for Te Ranga Huatau to be our kete mātauranga — a space where the kōrero and whakaaro of this generation are created, woven together, and preserved for those to come.

Kei te rere ngā mihi ki a kōtou katoa kua tautoko, whakarauika mai i raro i tēnei kaupapa whakahirahira, ā, ko Te Ranga Huatau. Te Ranga Huatau has been a wero, one that challenged our writers and ourselves to look beyond retaliation and reaction, and instead move forward with resilience. This kaupapa is made possible through the unwavering support of our whānau, our peers, and our hāpori whānui.

We would like to especially thank our sponsors, our tūākana, and all who contributed. To Ngāi Tauira, Professor Rawinia Higgins the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Māori, Whāia Legal, Luke Cunningham Clere, Duncan Cotterill, Kōkiri Chambers, the Institute of Professional Legal Studies, Chapman Tripp, Te Kauhanganui Tātai Ture / Faculty of Law at Te Herenga Waka and finally Buddle Findlay, we extend our heartfelt aroha for your generous support. Your contributions have been vital in bringing this issue to life, and we are deeply grateful for your commitment to the publication of Māori law student’s perspectives.

We also acknowledge with gratitude the Māori Law Review, who for the second time have supported our kaupapa by providing an online platform for our publication.

We would like to give special thanks to Huy, our producer, whose creativity and dedication has been central to bringing Te Ranga Huatau to life. We are truly grateful for the countless hours and care you have poured into this kaupapa, and we acknowledge that this issue would not have been possible without you.

To our writers, thank you for the passion, insight, and unwavering commitment you have brought to this kaupapa. Your unique voices, thoughtful contributions, and pursuit of authenticity have breathed life into Te Ranga Huatau. Each piece not only showcases your creative strength, but also your perseverance and openness in navigating complex and sometimes confronting ideas. Your hard work is the foundation of this issue, and it is a privilege to share it. Each of you has explored he toka tū moana in your own way—revealing the many forms that resilience and standing firm can take in turbulent times.

With immense appreciation we recognise the contributions of our editors: Patricia, Katie, Teia, Amiria, Hēmi and our Te Reo Māori editor, Taipari. Each of you has brought care, skill and wisdom to this kaupapa, ensuring that every piece was strengthened and uplifted. The quality and mana of this issue are woven from your dedication. Your time and aroha have left an indelible imprint and we are sincerely grateful.

To Mila — my brilliant co-coordinator and treasured friend. While I’m incredibly proud of this magazine, one of the greatest gifts of this journey has been our friendship. It’s been a joy to work alongside you e hoa.

To Emma, my tuakana, friend, tutor and co-coordinator. This magazine has been such a testament to your work ethic, insanely intelligent brain and overall the incredible human you are, he aroha mauroa e hoa.

Hei whakakapi, ka huri ngā whakaaro ki tō māua rōpū o Ngā Rangahautira. To our tauira ture Māori, your ideas, experiences, and reflections are more important than ever—keep sharing them. The strength of Te Ranga Huatau rests in our collective voice, and yours will help shape its future and what lies beyond.

Ngā mihi nui,

Emma Barnes-Wetere raua ko Mila Pivac Solomon

Te kupu āpiti - Note

Cover art: Te Huihui o Matariki

Kaiwhakaputa, Ringatoi: Chi Huy Tran, Te Kā’ui Maunga (Taranaki Tūturu, Te iwi o Maruw’aranui, Te Āti Awa), Ngāti Maniapoto (Rereahu) (he/him)

Author: Guest Author

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