We are especially interested in structural change to better realise Māori rights to self-determination.

Our work in this area includes research into constitutions in colonised countries where Indigenous peoples’ aspire to forms of self-determination, rights to the return of lands, territories and resources, cultural rights and equality. Professor Charters has a Royal Society Rutherford Fellowship to devise concrete recommendations for constitutional transformation taking into account learning from elsewhere.

Our people also support constitutional transformation in a myriad of ways be it in their involvement in the larger social movement, working with NGOs, on government-appointed working groups, advocacy at the United Nations or in the Waitangi Tribunal and before New Zealand courts.
 

• About

Te Wai Ariki convened the Constitutional Kōrero conference on 21-23 November 2022. This was a once in a decade International event that brought together experts from around Aotearoa New Zealand and the world to discuss the constitutional transformation from an Indigenous perspective, and how to reform Aotearoa New Zealand’s current constitutional arrangements to better realise Māori aspirations for tino rangatiratanga. The conference will lead to concrete ideas for constitutional transformation and, also, inspired us all to continue to advocate for constitutional reform.
 

• Speakers

Our keynote speakers included preeminent scholars and advocated from Mexico, Norway, Sweden, Australia, the Philippines, Malaysia, the United States, Canada, Hawaii, Japan, Vanuatu, Tanzania, Chile and Ecuador.

• Video and recordings

Video clips of Constitutional Kōrero 2022. 

• Media

Media associated with the Constitutional Kōrero includes the below.