Tikanga Māori and State Law

The book Tikanga Māori and State Law by Jayden Houghton (Rereahu Maniapoto, Ngāti Whātua, Ngāpuhi) is a comprehensive and timely exploration of tikanga Māori as a legal system and its complex relationship with New Zealand’s state legal system.

Published in May 2025 by Thomson Reuters, this book is structured in three main parts:

Tikanga Māori as a Legal System

Introduces foundational tikanga Māori concepts, cosmogony, and traditional practices.Discusses how tikanga has evolved and functions in both traditional and contemporary contexts.

Tikanga and State Law

Explores the recognition of tikanga in common law and legislation.

Examines hybridisation and potential distortions when tikanga is interpreted through a Western legal lens.

Discusses judicial approaches to adjudicating cases involving tikanga.

Collisions and Case Studies

Features over 50 case studies across 18 areas of law, including criminal, constitutional, family, environmental, and intellectual property law.

Each chapter includes discussion questions to support learning and critical engagement.