Law students will be adding another skillset to their university degrees. Announced on Friday May 7, Tikanga Māori and Te Ao Māori concepts are set to be part of core legal education in all universities in Aotearoa.
The New Zealand Council of Legal Education, responsible for the law school curriculum, voted unanimously for the resolution at its biannual meeting last week.
Ultimately, it will see Te Ao Māori concepts taught in each core law subject at university.
To make it official, the council has to complete its formal regulatory process around amending its rules. This is due to begin shortly, and involves consultations with various stakeholders - including academics, iwi, students, lawyers and other Māori organisations.
Results of the consultation process are due to be discussed at the council’s next meeting in November. Following that, proposed curriculum changes will need to be approved from the Justice Minister.
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